Mercedes-Benz is known to be working on a baby G-Class that will keep the iconic SUV's signature cues like boxy styling and rugged body-on-frame construction. However, we may also see the automaker launch other G-Class models bigger and badder than anything we've seen before – at least if recent trademark activity uncovered by CarBuzz is any indication.
A search of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) shows that Mercedes has been filing trademark applications that fit the mold of G-Class model designations. They were filed in September for use on motor vehicles and include G600, G700, G800, and G900. Current G-Class model designations in the US include G550 and G580 with EQ Technology.
Trademarks Could Be In Preparation For New V8
The G550 comes with a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6 paired with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, which delivers a peak 443 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque. The G580 with EQ Technology is a fully electric model with four motors delivering a peak 579 hp and 859 lb-ft of torque. The new designations would likely be attached to even more potent models – perhaps even more powerful than the 577 hp and 627 lb-ft of the current Mercedes-AMG G63 range-topper, something that would likely result in AMG bumping up output of any future G63 as well. Another alternative is that the designations could be used for Maybach derivatives, which typically use a triple-digit suffix unlike AMGs.
At the heart of these new models could be a new V8 engine Mercedes has in the works. All the automaker has said about the engine is that it will be electrified. This means mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid configurations will be likely, similar to what Mercedes does with its current V8. The engine is also rumored to feature a flat-plane crankshaft – as used in the previous-generation AMG GT Black Series flagship – along with improved throttle response and emissions compliance in line with the latest Euro 7 rules.
More power might not only be in the cards, but also new body styles. The return of the open-top G-Class Cabriolet has already been confirmed, and a stretched three-row model is also a distinct possibility given the popularity of SUVs with third-row seats. Even Porsche is working on one.
The expansion of the G-Class line would fit Mercedes' new strategy announced in 2022, which called for a focus on lower volumes and higher margins to boost profits, rather than higher volumes of entry-level cars. We've already seen the first fruits of this strategy with models like the Maybach SL-Class and the AMG PureSpeed, which is also based on the SL-Class.
Before you get too excited, there's also the possibility that the new designations will be used for existing G-Class models, freeing up the current names for the planned baby G-Class. The last we heard, it's due later this decade, likely still with internal-combustion engines in tow. It won't be cheap, though. When first announcing it two years ago, Mercedes chief Ola Källenius said it would be a “real G.” A recent teaser photo also suggests it will be styled just like its big brother but on a – only slightly – smaller scale.
It's also worth mentioning that new model name trademarks by automakers don't necessarily indicate that new vehicles are actively being developed or planned for release. Trademarks are often registered preemptively to protect brand names for potential future use, to prevent competitors from claiming them, or simply to keep options open if market conditions change.
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