Mercedes often sees the G-Wagen as a blank canvas worthy of different upgrades. This is how they turned the previous generation into a six-wheel-drive beast of the four-wheel-drive premium off-roader. Then they removed one axle and called it a four-wheel drive model based on the six-wheel drive vehicle, which, in turn, was built on the regular 4x4 - if that makes any sense.
Back when V12 engines were still a thing at the three-pointed star company, the G-Class received a couple of such units. One of them powered the old G 63 AMG, and the other made its way under the hood of the Maybach-branded G 650 Laundaulet, which boasted an open-top view of the sky above the rear passenger compartment.
The twelve-banger had 6.0 liters in displacement in the luxury version of the 4x4 and two turbochargers. It was good for 621 horses and 738 pound-feet (1,000 Nm) of torque, which is still more than the bi-turbo 4.0-liter V8-powered modern-day AMG G 63's 577 hp and 627 lb-ft (850 Nm). Production of the G 650 Landaulet was capped at 99 units, and all of them were sold in no time. Nowadays, this model, which features individual rear seats separated by a full-length console, a partition wall, a rear entertainment system, and several other tech and comfort gizmos, is a six-digit affair.
Made in 2017 and 2018, the Mercedes-Maybach G 650 was the swansong of the old G-Class, and the only times we get to write about it is whenever one example hits the used car market. But that's not the case here because this story is a bit different. The one pictured above in the gallery was spotted next to the upcoming battery-electric EQG, presumably somewhere in Germany, and it had its entire exterior under wraps.
From what we can see, it retains the original wide fenders, the grille, headlamps, hood, doors, side steps, and everything else. Even the rag top above the rear passenger compartment, which sports a beige look here, is the same. The ground clearance is just as high, and the vehicle rides on the OEM wheels. So, if it is identical all around, then why does it have the trippy vinyl stickers on its body? That's a question that only a few Mercedes insiders can answer.
Still, we can speculate that it might be a mule of a potential upcoming Landaulet variant of the second-gen G-Class. That would be the most plausible scenario. It could also be a prototype of the original model that the Stuttgart brand hasn't scrapped yet. They might also be testing new technology features and found this camo'd car worthy of that, so we wouldn't hold our breath for a fresh Landaulet yet. But do you think Mercedes really has something up its sleeves with this vehicle? And if so, what could it be?
After a series of unfortunate events put an end to Cristian's dream of entering a custom built & tuned old-school Dacia into a rally competition, he moved on to drive press cars and write for a living. He's worked for several automotive online journals and now he's back at autoevolution after his first tour in the mid-2000s. Full profile
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