Created to reach the end of the earth. And, perhaps, of time.
Designed, quite simply, to endure. Long before SUVs were popular, Mercedes-Benz set out to create a vehicle with an unprecedented spectrum of capabilities:
the reliability, robustness and capability for industrial, municipal and military use, along with the comfort and safety for everyday people to enjoy every day. Its design
would be functional, both in its operation and its aesthetic —with a chassis and 4-wheel drive system matching extreme off-road ability with on- road agility. It would
go on to win coveted awards, grueling endurance rallies, and devoted customers —from civilians who appreciate its capability, composure and craftsmanship, to the
Swiss Army, who are famous for appreciating versatile equipment. After three decades of evolution, the legendary “G” remains true to its roots, and to its drivers.
A G-CLASS RETROSPECTIVE
1972
Development of a new type of off-road vehicle—one that will excel both in the toughest
terrain and yet provide the comfort and safety engineering for which Mercedes-Benz
is known—begins in a cooperative agreement between Daimler-Benz and Steyr-Daimler-
Puch in Graz, Austria. Mercedes-Benz engineers in Stuttgart focus on the design and
testing of the new vehicle, while the team in Graz develops the production plans.
1994 The model line is officially renamed the G-Class. Ventilated front disc brakes and a driver’s
air bag become standard.
1996
The automatic transmission is now an electronically controlled 5- speed unit. Headlamp
washers, cruise control and a front passenger’s air bag are added.
1998
1999
The range-topping G500 with a 296-hp V-8 is introduced for series production.
1973
1974
The first wooden model is presented to Daimler-Benz management.
A limited run of V-8 powered “G500 Classic” special editions marks the 20th anniversary.
A multifunction steering wheel is added to all models. Later in the year, the new G55 AMG
debuts as the most powerful G-Class yet, with 354 hp.
The first driveable prototype vehicle begins testing around the globe—from the coalfields
of Germany, to the Sahara Desert, to the Arctic Circle.
1975
Construction commences on a new production facility in Graz, where the new cross-
country vehicle will be assembled nearly entirely by hand.
2001
The new millennium welcomes a series of refinements coinciding with the U.S. market
launch of the G-Class. New alloy wheels, a chrome grille and body-color bumpers surround
a more luxurious cabin. New dynamic control systems include the Electronic Stability
1979
1980
Production of the“G-Model” begins in Graz.
Program (ESP ), Brake Assist and the 4-wheel Electronic Traction System (4-ETS).
®
The Vatican takes delivery of a specially made G-Model outfitted with a clear thermoplastic
top. After serving the Pope for years, the “Papa-G” or “Popemobile” will take up permanent
residence at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, Germany.
2004 The G55 AMG is upgraded with a supercharged V-8 engine developing 476 hp, as the
G-Class celebrates its 25th anniversary.
1981
1982
The first major refinements include an automatic transmission, air conditioning, an
auxiliary fuel tank, protective headlamp grilles and a cable winch.
2006 In Siberia, a documentary filmmaker is the first foreigner to reach the world’s coldest
region with a passenger vehicle in winter, driving a stock G500 nearly 19,000 km without
a single breakdown, in temperatures as frigid as –63˚F.
Fuel injection becomes available, along with more comfortable and supportive front seats,
auxiliary heating, wider tires and fender flares.
2007 The output of the G55 AMG is raised to an even 500 hp. Bi-Xenon headlamps, corner-
illuminating front foglamps and new scratch-resistant nano-particle paint finishes are
offered for the first time.
1983
1985
1986
1987
A rally-prepared and modified 280GE wins the torturous Paris–Dakar Rally.
Differential locks, central door locking and a tachometer become standard.
The 50,000th G-Model is handcrafted at the Graz facility.
2008
More-refined instrumentation and controls grace the G-Class cabin, along with such
new-generation technology as the COMAND system with hard-drive -based navigation,
Power windows, a power antenna and a combined partition net and luggage cover join the
optional equipment roster.
a rear view camera, voice control, Bluetooth and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System.
®
The Vatican receives a new white “Popemobile” based on a G500.
1989
1992
At the10th anniversary of the G-Model, a new model variant with permanent 4-wheel drive,
a luxurious wood-trimmed interior and optional Antilock Braking System (ABS) debuts at
the Frankfurt International Motor Show. Production begins the following April.
2009
2011
The G-Class celebrates its 30th birthday as it enters model-year 2010, with over 200,000
units having been handcrafted in Graz since the start of production.
Even through countless evolutionary changes, the G-Class remains unwaveringly true not
just to its original design ethic and handcrafted construction, but to its original promise:
a seemingly limitless, and clearly timeless, vehicle for the world.
A new sub-series for professional users—from landscapers and foresters to fire and rescue
operations—begins production. The civilian model offers cruise control, a stainless-steel
spare-tire cover, running boards and Burl Walnut wood interior trim. And the 100,000th
G-Model is built in Graz.
| Categories | Mercedes-Benz GL-Class Manuals, Mercedes-Benz Manuals |
|---|---|
| Tags | Mercedes Benz G550, Mercedes Benz W463, Mercedes-Benz G55 AMG |
| Model Year | 2011 |
| Download File |
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| Document File Type | |
| Copyright | Attribution Non-commercial |
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