The Upcoming Mercedes-Benz “Baby-G” will Have its Own, Body-on-Frame Platform

• Mercedes-Benz is working on a smaller running mate for the G-Class SUV.

• This upcoming model will share very little parts with the current G-Wagen, and it will have its own platform.

• Nevertheless, its looks should make it clearly related to the full-size G-Class.

The upcoming “Baby-G” from Mercedes-Benz will be its own distinct product, despite a strong resemblance to the full-size G-Wagen.

Indeed, the company’s tech boss, Markus Schäfer, spoke to British magazine Autocar about this highly-anticipated future model, claiming that it will use a bespoke platform and not just a shrunken-down version of the current G-Class’ chassis.

This is to ensure that the new model will be iconic in its own right, without risking diluting the original’s image with the addition of a smaller and more affordable sibling.

This is new product is the beginning of Mercedes-Benz’s plan to turn the G-Class into a family of models, similarly to how Land Rover broke off the Defender range from its other products.

At the moment, only the gas-powered G-Wagen and the electric G 580 with EQ Technology are available, but this should change soon, as the “Baby-G” is expected to launch in late 2026 or early 2027. There are currently no plans to have a combustion-powered version join the confirmed electric model. A full-size G-Wagen cabriolet is also in the works.

While the upcoming SUV will not share the current G-Class platform, we can still expect it to benefit from impressive off-road capabilities since Schäfer confirmed that the new model will be built on a ladder frame, like most serious off-roaders.

Of course, the “Baby-G” will not be as rugged as the full-size G-Wagen, but its suspension and tires will afford it better capabilities than most once the pavement stops.

The body will also be highly unique, with almost no shared parts between the full-size and the smaller G models. Even the door handles will have to be modified for the upcoming SUV.

Despite this, the “Baby-G” is expected to have a strong family resemblance to the iconic G-Wagen, as the brand’s head of design, Gorden Wagener, said it will be a “tweaked” G-Class.

The small model will, however, feature a more modern design than even the electric G 580 with EQ technology.

Mercedes Electrifies Its Iconic G-Class With New All-Electric G 580

Ola Källenius, Mercedes-Benz Chairman, said in a speech at the IAA Mobility show in Munich this weekend that the first test mules for the “Baby-G” will begin driving on public roads “very soon”, showing that the engineering side is making good progress.

Mercedes-Benz also released a teaser image that gives a glimpse at the smaller model’s rear end next to the full-size version.

While not much can be gathered from this picture, we can see that, like its big brother, the “Baby-G” will be very boxy, it will feature slim, low-mounted taillamps, and the spare tire will be mounted outside, on the rear door.

Source: Autocar