RE: Mercedes G-Wagen spy shots

RE: Mercedes G-Wagen spy shots

Wednesday 27th July 2016

Mercedes G-Wagen spy shots

Why on earth would Mercedes want to camo-wrap a G-Wagen? [updated photos]



Given it's been on sale since the 70s you wonder what on earth Mercedes is up to requiring an anti-spy snapper camo livery for its venerable G-Class. Or G-Wagen as we still prefer to call it. Mainly because it sounds cooler.

Could this be a G-Wagen style body on modern underpinnings, cashing in on the classic looks but running somewhat less antiquated running gear? Erm, nope. You can still see the live axles. So it would appear to be business as usual under there.


What of the body? What could be radical enough there to require a full camo wrap? Seemingly not a lot. The proportions are as boxy as ever, the windscreen is still board flat, the bonnet line and wing-mounted sidelights/indicators are as they've always been and it all looks as anti-fashion cool as ever. The clues come in the accompanying text from the spy photo agency, pointing to what looks like increased width in the body. Handily their man with the camera has managed to get a pic of the mule with a regular G in the background and it would appear to back up the claim of as much as 10cm additional width. Note also the more modern door cards in the shot with them open; heaven knows Mercedes has been doing its best with the G's 70s architecture but, while we rather like the retro feel, those spending six figure sums probably want something a little more up to date.

Given the G-Wagen is still body-on-frame this would appear to be a relatively simple way of increasing the interior space and accommodating the kind of safety and gizmo count all modern Mercs are expected to carry. Without stopping it looking like an old one.

 

 

 

 

[Photos: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien]

Author
Discussion

EricE

Original Poster:

1,945 posts

129 months

Monday 4th July 2016
quotequote all
EV? It's not like the extra weight of the batteries would be very noticable. hehe

DS240

4,657 posts

218 months

Monday 4th July 2016
quotequote all
Without the camo, would anyone have even given it a second glance!

vtecyo

2,122 posts

129 months

Monday 4th July 2016
quotequote all
Looks the same as it did in 1979.

German defender. Except it's nice to be in and drive... or at least the mid 90's one I hacked about in for a day was. I assume it's the same now.

Modificata

531 posts

246 months

Monday 4th July 2016
quotequote all
Yup Deffo looks wider. It'll be interesting to see the interior improvements, although to be honest Mercedes could have avoided all the trouble. I've been happy with it for years!

cptsideways

13,544 posts

252 months

Monday 4th July 2016
quotequote all
No solid front axle

ohoraherecaptain

1 posts

93 months

Monday 4th July 2016
quotequote all
Funny!
Can you advise me - who or where I may get information on RHD Mercedes Pagoda's in​ ​Indonesia​?​ If not, can anyone direct me towards someone who can?
Regards.
JOH.

williamp

19,248 posts

273 months

Monday 4th July 2016
quotequote all
That's just some rap artists new paint job. His 22" rims are away being gold-chromed-blue-red plated with diamond encrusted anodised wheel nuts.

TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

126 months

Monday 4th July 2016
quotequote all
I particularly like the way the article refers to pics with a "normal" G in the background, and with the door open, but doesn't actually include them.

Top quality...

Tuvra

7,921 posts

225 months

Tuesday 5th July 2016
quotequote all
More interestingly, whats that in front of it:-

Doesn't look like a Mercedes.....

AER

1,142 posts

270 months

Tuesday 5th July 2016
quotequote all
If they hadn't camo wrapped it, they wouldn't have got a bunch of free press from Pistonheads and presumably other old-tech magazines. For the price of some left-over camouflage wrap and a bit of some apprentice's time, they've managed to embed the three-pointed-star more firmly into the memory banks of their marketplace!

stuckmojo

2,971 posts

188 months

Tuesday 5th July 2016
quotequote all
What I can see (as G wagen owner and nerd).

- Wider
- no solid axle at the front
- Windscreen rake has changed

The interior is likely to be totally different.


Relax

39 posts

94 months

Tuesday 5th July 2016
quotequote all
You can hardly tell what it is with that camo wrap, the thing almost disappeared into thin air........not.

TrivsTom

129 posts

167 months

Tuesday 5th July 2016
quotequote all
Possibly a mule for the pick-up? Unlikely but worth a punt if i'm right.

CraigyMc

16,387 posts

236 months

Tuesday 5th July 2016
quotequote all
Perhaps this is an actual new paint option for those with no taste?

EnglishTony

2,552 posts

99 months

Tuesday 5th July 2016
quotequote all
More interestingly what is Merc doing with that BMW i3 in the background?

ukaskew

10,642 posts

221 months

Tuesday 5th July 2016
quotequote all
EnglishTony said:
More interestingly what is Merc doing with that BMW i3 in the background?
It's not unusual for manufacturers to purchase other cars for benchmarking etc.

anonymous-user

54 months

Tuesday 5th July 2016
quotequote all
Tuvra said:
More interestingly, whats that in front of it:-

Doesn't look like a Mercedes.....
It's a Polo...

No, looks like anything as its wearing too much camo shielding - probably a new 'Mercedes GLB'

Swordman

452 posts

164 months

Tuesday 5th July 2016
quotequote all
Utterly ruined. The G wagen is meant to be square with solid axles. This independent front suspension malarkey doesn't wash.

blearyeyedboy

6,284 posts

179 months

Tuesday 5th July 2016
quotequote all
DanTrent said:
Why on earth would Mercedes want to camo-wrap a G-Wagen?
To get your attention so that you write an article about it for this website, Dan. wink

I'd say they achieved their aim.

matrignano

4,361 posts

210 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
quotequote all
Kierkegaard said:
It's a Polo...

No, looks like anything as its wearing too much camo shielding - probably a new 'Mercedes GLB'
New E-Class Estate