Mercedes is resurrecting an open-top G-Class — and the silhouette teaser promises one of the most attention-grabbing convertibles in years. Rather than a quirky one-off, this will be a production model: a long-wheelbase, five-door G-Wagen that trades the familiar hard-top for a folding roof system, bringing true open-air motoring to a vehicle best known for its slab-sided, go-anywhere toughness.
A little history helps explain why this matters. Classic soft-top Gs were once common, but they were almost always short-wheelbase machines built for a different kind of buyer. When the G was redesigned in the late 2010s, the line-up shifted to long-wheelbase only, and the open-top idea largely disappeared except in ultra-rare Landaulet executions. This new convertible changes the equation: for the first time in mass production, you’ll get the G’s long, five-door body with a roof you can fold away. The sketch Mercedes released is deliberately coy, but some details jump out. There’s a clear new section behind the rear seats that appears to fold down into a semi-open bay. How the roof tucks away — whether into a rear deck, an under-floor cassette or an external boot-mounted pack — remains unknown, and that choice will shape how usable the cargo area and rear seating remain. Expect compromises: structural reinforcements to regain rigidity lost when you remove a fixed roof will add weight, and some luggage capacity and rear-seat packaging will likely suffer compared with the hard-top model.
Mechanically, Mercedes seems set to offer a familiar ladder of powertrains. The obvious headline will be the G 63 AMG’s twin-turbo V8, providing the kind of bark and shove buyers of open-top luxury SUVs crave. It’s also plausible the line-up will stretch from milder petrol and diesel options up to hybrid or even full-electric choices — the existing electrified G variants hint that a battery-powered convertible isn’t out of the question. An electric open-top G would be a niche item: immediate torque and whisper-quiet cruising contrast with battery packaging and weight that complicate roof storage and off-road capability. Practicality and capability are big parts of the G’s appeal, and Mercedes will be walking a tightrope between romance and function.
Buyers will want the convertible to retain serious off-road credentials: high ground clearance, low-range gearing and robust protection underneath. Delivering that while making a roof foldable and keeping the long-wheelbase silhouette will be an engineering juggling act. Expect heavier underbody protection, reinforced pillars and a stiffer centre structure — all adding cost and mass.
Speaking of cost: the convertible will sit above the standard G in the range. Used long-wheelbase Gs are already attainable in relative terms — you can currently pick one up for under €81,900 — but the new open-top version will be a pricier proposition. Launch pricing is expected to begin just above €175,500, reflecting the bespoke roof mechanism and added structural work. At the very top end, however, this new model still won’t cross into the stratosphere of the extraordinary Mercedes-Maybach G650 Landaulet, which commanded a price in the region of €702,000. In short, the G-Class convertible promises a rare mix: the visual drama and charisma of an open-top luxury icon married to the off-road heritage of the G-Wagen.
It won’t be a practical choice for everyone, but for buyers seeking a bold, unignorable statement — and who are willing to accept some trade-offs in space and cost — this could become the most theatrical open-top SUV on the market. More official details on roof architecture, payload, and specific power outputs will arrive in the coming months.
