G-Wagen Redux

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

Germany’s Auto-BILD thinks it knows how it will look when Daimler shrinks the G-Wagen. In 2015, Daimler will bring out a GLG based on the new A-Class, says the magazine. Auto-BILD hasn’t seen more than the own renderings, but that doesn’t keep the rag from bitching:

“The off-road characteristics are everything but distinctive: The base model is front wheel drive, and the 4Matic version can do little more than wet meadows and snow-covered farm tracks.”

While the GLG tries to be as boxy as the big G brother, the GLA will be a bit more rounded. Expected in 2014.

The GLK is expected in 2015.

Bertel Schmitt
Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.

More by Bertel Schmitt

Comments
Join the conversation
2 of 17 comments
  • -Cole- -Cole- on Jul 31, 2012

    Could two cars be any further apart than the G and A? RIP G

  • Fintail jim Fintail jim on Jul 31, 2012

    I believe I have purchased my last Mercedes-Benz product. They are simply cheapening the car too much. I've owned 7 including 2 W124s (with the possible exception of the W126, the best they ever built). Just for fun about 10 years ago I bought a 1967 230S (W111) fintail sedan. I could see that even in this 35-year-old (at the time) machine the "luxury" was in the engineering and execution of the vehicle - not in the bells and whistles. I was able to make an interesting comparison, though protracted and possibly not completely objective because of the passage of time, with my father's 1967 Cadillac sedan. Remember GM was at the top of its game in the 1960s and Mercedes-Benz was still trying to "figure out" the U. S. auto buyer. Nevertheless, my dad would have been much impressed with the handling of the swing axle Mercedes if not its "climate control." Two other Benz that have been in my garage were a 2003 ML350 (W163) which was traded for a 2010 GLK 350 (x204); both driven by my wife. She really liked the ML but likes the GLK even more. The ML was definitely a truck. Still I can see where more cost cutting has occured especially in the quality of the interior materials. Here's the killing thing though: My 2007 C280 (W203) makes a little chirping sound when one locks the doors with the remote 'key' which also sets the alarm. The new C-class (W204), which I drove as a loaner whent the GLK was in for scheduled maintenance, toots the horn to let you know the alarm is set just like a Honda Accord or Toyota Camry. Good grief! That is going a bit too far in cheapness for a $40,000 compact car.

  • CanadaCraig You can just imagine how quickly the tires are going to wear out on a 5,800 lbs AWD 2024 Dodge Charger.
  • Luke42 I tried FSD for a month in December 2022 on my Model Y and wasn’t impressed.The building-blocks were amazing but sum of the all of those amazing parts was about as useful as Honda Sensing in terms of reducing the driver’s workload.I have a list of fixes I need to see in Autopilot before I blow another $200 renting FSD. But I will try it for free for a month.I would love it if FSD v12 lived up to the hype and my mind were changed. But I have no reason to believe I might be wrong at this point, based on the reviews I’ve read so far. [shrug]. I’m sure I’ll have more to say about it once I get to test it.
  • FormerFF We bought three new and one used car last year, so we won't be visiting any showrooms this year unless a meteor hits one of them. Sorry to hear that Mini has terminated the manual transmission, a Mini could be a fun car to drive with a stick.It appears that 2025 is going to see a significant decrease in the number of models that can be had with a stick. The used car we bought is a Mk 7 GTI with a six speed manual, and my younger daughter and I are enjoying it quite a lot. We'll be hanging on to it for many years.
  • Oberkanone Where is the value here? Magna is assembling the vehicles. The IP is not novel. Just buy the IP at bankruptcy stage for next to nothing.
  • Jalop1991 what, no Turbo trim?
Next