New Mercedes-Benz G-Class revealed for military use

Mercedes-Benz has quietly unveiled a new-generation version of its G-Class four-wheel-drive for military and emergency service use – sparking speculation the rugged G-Class Professional could make a comeback.

Codenamed W464, the new G-Class “for Rescue and Special Operations” is the successor to the W461-series G-Class built for Australian and international militaries since 1992 – but last sold to civilians in Australia in 2019 – and differs significantly from the luxury-oriented W463 model currently offered in local Mercedes-Benz showrooms in G400d and AMG G63 forms.

Whereas the W463 G-Class offers independent front suspension and a suite of comfort and safety features, the W464 ‘G-Wagen’ – available in five-door, four-seat wagon and two-door cab-chassis bodies – retains solid front and rear axles, and features a stripped-back interior and heavy-duty chassis skewed towards capability and dependability.

Powering the new W464 G350d is a version of the 2.9-litre turbo-diesel inline-six engine (officially branded as a 3.0-litre, despite a 2925cc displacement) in the latest G400d, sending 183kW and 600Nm to all four wheels through Mercedes’ familiar nine-speed torque-converter automatic transmission – replacing the outgoing W461’s 135kW/400Nm 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 and five-speed automatic.

Whereas the engine in the G400d develops 243kW/700Nm and complies with the latest Euro 6 emissions regulations, the W464 G350d’s unit has been modified to merely meet Euro 3 standards – allowing it to run consistently on low-quality diesel fuel with 500 parts per million (ppm) of sulphur, as is commonplace in many African and Central Asian regions.

Overseas media report the engine can run for up to 400 hours on diesel with 3000ppm of sulphur, catering to fuels offered readily in all but a handful of nations where the combat-oriented G-Class could be deployed. For comparison, Australian and European diesel contains just 10ppm of sulphur.

Highlights of the new W464 include a choice of 80- or 96-litre fuel tanks (paired with a six to eight per cent fuel economy boost from the new engine), a 24-volt electrical system, 3500kg towing, and payloads between one tonne in the five-door ‘BR06’ and 2.5 tonnes in the cab-chassis ‘BR09’.

European media outlets report a two to 14km/h crawl speed in the gearbox and transfer case’s lowest ratios, an upgraded cooling system, newly-designed seats and steering wheel (with body armour in mind), a splash-proof and glove-friendly interior, and LED exterior lighting technology.

With 221mm of ground clearance, five-door versions are said to be capable of climbing a 100 per cent (or 45-degree) incline, with 35-degree approach and 36-degree departure angles (up from 30 degrees in the W461), and a 22-degree ramp-over angle. 

Wading depth is rated at 660mm (up from 600mm), while it’s reported the new W464 G350d can run at temperatures between -35 and 50 degrees Celsius, and at altitudes up to 4000 metres (13,120 feet). Wheelbases range from 2850mm in the BR06 wagon, to 3650mm in the two-door BR09.

Production of the outgoing W461-generation Mercedes-Benz G-Class will cease in the first half of 2022, European media report, ahead of the first series-production W464 examples slated to roll off the assembly line in mid-2022. 

Full parts and service support will continue for operators of the W461 for 15 years – including the Australian Defence Force, which took delivery of its first Geländewagen in early 2011.

While yet to be confirmed officially, the reveal of the new military G-Class has sparked rumours the G-Class Professional could make a return for civilian buyers, after being discontinued in Australia (and other markets) in recent years.

Given the previous-generation Professional was based on the military-spec W461 chassis, the arrival of a new W464 model – and the eventual end of production of its predecessor – could open the door for a new civilian model to sit below the luxurious, 'second-generation' W463.

Any new civilian G-Class Professional would likely use the 243kW/700Nm G400d-badged version of the 2.9-litre diesel straight-six, given its need to comply with stricter Euro 5 and 6 emissions standards present in Australia, Europe and other markets, in order to be sold and road-registered legally.

The W461-series G-Class Professional departed Australia in 2019, with the off-roader available in five-door wagon and two-door cab-chassis version of a shared G300 CDI variant, priced from $109,900 and $119,900 before on-road costs respectively – roughly half that of the newly-introduced W463 G400d, currently listed at $246,500 before on-road costs. 

The unveiling of the military-spec 2022 Mercedes-Benz G-Class comes weeks after the introduction of a new Professional-Line package for the G400d – detailed in full here – which adds off-road-themed touches including unique 18-inch wheels, a roof rack, and stone headlight grilles.