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Next-Generation Mercedes-Benz G-Class Dashboard Partially Revealed in Spyshots

Don't let the still-brick-like styling cues of the second-generation Mercedes-Benz G-Class prototype spied here trick you into believing the cabin of the offroader will be anywhere near as antique as the interior of the current car.
Next-Generation Mercedes-Benz G-Class 14 photos
Photo: Carpix
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First of all, Mercedes-Benz will maintain the boxy design of the Gelandewagen to keep the tradition alive. The rugged look will be passed down to all future Mercedes SUVs and crossovers, even if we're talking about the little details, such as the 2019 GLE wheel arches we discussed earlier today.

As for the cabin, the greatest difference compared to the experience the G Wagon offer nowadays will be made in the interior room department. When the G was introduced 37 years ago, automotive platforms weren't anywhere near as space efficient as the architectures our cars use today. And we won't even insist on the switch from a military-based, civilian-adapted vehicle to a machine that's destined for those who aren't necessarily serving some country. Will the doors make the same rifle-reloading sound when closing? It's too early to tell.

Nevertheless, thanks to the new set of spyshots we have here, we can check out a piece of the next G-Class dashboard. While it looks like the instrument panel will remain analog, nobody expected such a car to follow the all-digital path.

Then there are the rounded air vents, which mean the rugged terrain beast will finally be in tune with contemporary Mercedes interior styling trends - while many adore the exterior of the G-Class, ourselves included, we haven't heard too many aficionados explaining how the retro outdated cabin floats their boat.

The G-Class is expected to get a separate platform, being the only generously-sized Mercedes SUV that won't ride on the new MHA modular platform, which has already debuted on the GLC and is preparing to enter service with the next-gen GLE. So yes, the three lockable diffs are probably here to stay, even though their main benefit probably has to do more with bringing peace of mind than sheer climbing - we're talking average Gelandewagen customer offroading time here.

The new platform should help the G-Class shed a massive 900 lbs (400 kg), while also gifting it with what most drivers define as "normal" cornering abilities, something even the current AMG models struggle to deliver. Speaking of the G63 AMG, the label should gain a more potent incarnation of the twin-turbo 4.0-liter that now animates the G500, as well as its 4×4² version.

Regardless, the machine will continue to be produced by Magna in Graz, Austria, so this will, once again, be a custom story from the very beginning.

As for the new G-Class timetable, the Mercedes-Benz 2016-2017 product plan that recently leaked online doesn't mention anything about the reincarnation of the go-anywhere icon. Then again, judging by the advanced development stage of the spied prototype, initial rumors pointing towards a late 2017 release as a 2018 model could be true.
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About the author: Andrei Tutu
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In his quest to bring you the most impressive automotive creations, Andrei relies on learning as a superpower. There's quite a bit of room in the garage that is this aficionado's heart, so factory-condition classics and widebody contraptions with turbos poking through the hood can peacefully coexist.
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