Spied: 2023 Mercedes-Benz G-Class Wagen
It’s official: the G-class is going electric. But before Mercedes-Benz launches the electric EQG SUV, we get one more model year of all internal combustion Mercedes G Wagons for 2023.
The 2023 Mercedes G Wagon is coming
Mercede-Benz has been selling its G-Class full-frame SUV with only slight refreshes, since 1979. The Austrian-built 4×4 is getting some major changes for its 2023 facelift.
According to Motor Authority, Mercedes G-class powertrains will likely include a mild-hybrid system added to the G550 and/or G63’s 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8. There’s even a chance the automaker will launch a plug-in hybrid version sometime in 2023.
The mild-hybrid system will likely include the 21 horsepower/184 lb-ft electric motor Mercedes offers in other models. This electric motor will be powerful enough to launch the G Wagon from a standstill, smoothing out the engine start/stop system while maintaining fuel savings. It will recharge via regenerative braking.
Mercedes-Benz’s 2023 G-Class will look different
The Mercedes-Benz engineers are currently doing endurance testing with the redesigned 2023 G Wagon. To keep the refresh secret, they are completing these tests with SUVs wrapped in camouflage.
One journalist captured extensive footage of this new 2023 G-Class cruising on the public roads around Nürburgring. The footage shows that the 2023 refresh will upgrade several aspects of the Mercedes SUV.
The camouflage on the front and rear fascias of the G Wagon is not surprising. Mercedes-Benz has obviously redesigned and modernized these panels. The headlights look similar to previous second-generation (W463) G-class SUVs (2019-2022).
Some theorized that Mercedes would incorporate elements of the electric EQG into the production G-Class for 2023. Some of the dramatic elements of the EQG concept included a square spare tire carrier (for wall chargers), retro-futuristic solid chrome rims, and an LED lightbar replacing the rubber rub-rail and running the entire length of the SUV.
But a careful examination of the 2023 G Wagon disproves this theory: the door panels are identical to the 2022 model and Mercedes did not bother camouflaging them. There’s no LED light bar in sight. The rims are standard 22-inch 2022 units in satin black. Finally, the spare tire carrier is the regular round, chromed version.
Will Mercedes-Benz change the G-Class interior for 2023?
One interesting detail is the camouflage on the SUV’s dashboard. It is obvious that Mercedes changed up the G Wagon’s interior. Mercedes likely added the latest MBUX infotainment system to the refreshed 2023 G Wagon.
Did Mercedes also change up the infotainment screen? Mercedes has unveiled dramatic cabin-width screens on some recent prototypes. What’s under the 2023 Mercedes G-Class’s camoflauge? We’ll just have to wait and find out.
See the spy shots yourself in the video below:
