Mercedes Baby G-Class Keeps Frame, Drops EV-Only Plan

Mercedes-Benz will build its smaller G-Class on a body-on-frame chassis and offer combustion engines, abandoning an earlier plan to make the vehicle exclusively electric. The German automaker confirmed the structural and powertrain details as it prepares to introduce a scaled-down version of its most recognizable off-roader.

Mercedes-AMG CEO Stefan Weckbach told Road and Track the compact model will “target a different segment” and “won’t target the real G customer.” He stressed the vehicle will be “significantly different from the big brother or mother or father,” signaling the company intends to avoid cannibalizing sales of the standard G-Class, which starts above $140,000 in the United States.

The decision to retain a ladder frame separates the upcoming model from unibody crossovers that dominate the luxury SUV market. Competitors like the Land Rover Defender have moved entirely to monocoque construction, while the Ford Bronco Sport uses a car-based platform shared with the Escape. By keeping the traditional architecture, Mercedes-Benz is betting that buyers seeking genuine off-road capability will reject crossover underpinnings regardless of badge prestige.

Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius promised the smaller vehicle “will have very good off-road capability.” The current full-size G-Class relies on three locking differentials and solid axles to navigate extreme terrain, hardware that has kept it relevant since its 1979 debut as a military vehicle. Whether the compact variant inherits all three lockers remains undisclosed.

Reversing the electric-only strategy reflects broader industry headwinds. Several automakers, including Ford and General Motors, have delayed or scaled back battery-electric timelines over the past two years as consumer adoption slowed and regulatory deadlines shifted. Offering internal combustion options widens the potential buyer pool for a vehicle expected to price significantly below the flagship G-Wagen.

Toyota launched a similar downsizing effort with the Land Cruiser FJ, built on the Hilux pickup truck platform to reach emerging markets at lower price points. Mercedes-Benz has not specified manufacturing locations or target regions for the new model. Spy shots published by Autoblog show heavily camouflaged prototypes undergoing testing, though exact dimensions have not been released.

The automaker has not announced pricing or a specific launch date for the compact G-Class.