Mercedes-Benz G-Class to receive massive facelift in 2017

Will lose more than 200 kg

Mercedes-Benz has announced a significant facelift for the G-Class which will come out sometime in 2017.

Although it will maintain the W463 codename, the iconic off-roader will go through a wide array of changes which will include losing more than 200 kg (441 lbs) as a result of using additional aluminum. In addition, the vehicle's width will increase by 100mm to approximately 1860mm while the front suspension will adopt a three- or four-link arrangement.

The engineers are also going to install an up-to-date electro-mechanical steering system and on the outside the angular design will be largely carried over but maybe with a few styling cues taken from the Ener-G-Force concept. The interior will go through some massive changes which will increase not only the available space but also quality and comfort thanks to C-Class-derived bits and pieces. On top of that, there should also be some additional safety and driver assistance systems as well as LED lights.

The 2017 Mercedes-Benz G-Class facelift is going to receive all-new inline-six 3.0-liter gasoline and diesel engines currently in development for the next-gen E-Class slated to come out in 2016. In the facelifted G-Class the gasoline engine should provide more than 360 bhp (268 kW) whereas the diesel will generate over 300 bhp (224 kW), with both of them being coupled as standard to the firm's nine-speed automatic transmission.

Following the introduction of the standard G-Class facelift, Mercedes-Benz plans similar updates for the AMG versions which are set to come out a few months later.

Source: autocar.co.uk