Mercedes “Little G” suspense for the first time

It will be electric.

The Concept CLA is Mercedes’ big debut this year at the 2023 IAA Munich, but the company’s CEO took the stage to make another major announcement. Ola Källenius has confirmed reports that a smaller G-Class is in development. While senior officials were talking about the compact off-road vehicle, a sketch of the boxy SUV was shown in the background. The 54-year-old described it as “Little G”, adding that it would be all-electric.

The Swedish CEO declined to reveal when the G-Class will hit the market, but since there’s only a sketch for now, it’s likely to be at least two years away. Ola Källenius admitted that the task would not be easy given that the newcomer had “some very big jobs to fill”. The three-pointed star “fully understands the responsibility involved,” adding that it would be “immediately recognizable.” We’re told the ‘Little G’ will be fun to drive off-road.

Spy photos of the Mercedes-Benz G-Class

German business paper Handelsblatt It was first to report a smaller G-Class in February. It is rumored to go on sale in 2026 and will be based on the same MMA architecture as the Concept CLA class that was presented at the IAA this week. If correct, this means that the more compact G will eschew the body-on-frame platform of its big brother in favor of a unibody build. According to the original report, the car won’t be much shorter than a full-fat G, but it’s said to get significantly closer to the road.

Keep in mind that MMA will not be an EV platform in the sense that it is built to accommodate combustion engines as well. Last year, Christoph Starzynski, Mercedes-Benz vice president of electric motor development, told us that compromises would be made on the ICE side rather than on the EV side as is the case today with the EQA and EQB. Handelsblatt has such good authority that the “Little G” will also be offered with conventional engines.