Benz confirms a small G-wagen is coming on new modular electric platform displaying in Munich this week.

JUNIOR G-wagen will soon be a thing, Benz has confirmed.

The pint-sized proposal will look to the past, with its retro-inspired styling, and to the future, in that it will be a fully electric four-wheel-drive.

The 'Little G' model was confirmed by Mercedes during a pre-show presentation for 2023 IAA Mobility, a big motor show in Munich where Benz is also previewing the Concept CLA (below).

That’s a four-door coupe styling study pointing to a new 800-volt electric car range that weill include a production version of the show car, plus a shooting brake wagon and two sports utilities. 

The baby G, which Benz identified as a ‘g-Class’, seems to be one of those, as Benz has said the 800v Mercedes Modular Architecture underpinning Concept CLA will be utilised.

The Stuttgart brand indicates the model will very much be a mini retro off-roader inspired by its famous bigger brother.

“There will be a smaller version of one of our most iconic shapes; yes, there will be a 'Little G’,"  Mercedes boss Ola Kallenius told a media briefing.

“We fully understand the responsibility this entails. Be assured the 'Little G' will be electric, it will be capable, and it will be instantly recognisable. And it will be a lot of fun to drive on and off the road - that's a promise.”

Mercedes has already announced an electric version of the G-Class with the EQG concept (pictured above and below), set debut in a year’s time.

The current ICE G-Class is an icon of the brand, and ironically already represents - though not officially - in small scale form, in that after-market conversion of the Suzuki Jimny to effect a Stuttgart styling is popular in Japan.

The MMA programme is a big forward step for Benz. The next CLA Shooting Brake wagon, and successors to the EQA compact SUV and EQB seven-seater SUV are deriving from it, according to overseas’ reports.

MMA models can be RWD or AWD and will utilise a drivetrain that can offer up to 750km in range. Gaining up to 400km of range in 15 minutes will also be possible through 250kW DC charging, Mercedes says.

An 800-volt architecture brings 250kW rapid charging, there's a new MB.OS operating system combined with Superscreen.

The CLA Class concept directly previews a car designed to take on Tesla’s popular Model 3, whose mid-life update has just been shown internationally. That car will be in New Zealand early next year.

Entry MMA models will feature a 175kW rear-mounted synchronous motor with two-speed transmission, with all-wheel-drive variants to be offered in addition to the rear-drive cars.

The internally developed electric drive system was showcased in another concept, the 2022 Vision EQXX, and brings “extremely high energy efficiency of up to 93 percent,” the brand says.

Mercedes says the most efficient MMA models will bring energy consumption of just 12kWh/100km to deliver 750km-plus range.