The Gentleman Magazine Issue 7 | February 2018 | Page 38

The components of the double-wishbone front axle are
directly mounted to the ladder-type frame without a subframe.
The lower wishbone’s attachment points on the frame are
positioned as high up as possible. This arrangement ensures
good driveability beyond the asphalt. Specifically for the
G-Class, the new front axle is designed in such a robust way
that the off-road performance and off-road capabilities of its
predecessor are maintained and even surpassed.
Equipped in this way and with a ground clearance of 270 mm
to the front axle gear, the G-Class provides plenty of potential
for maximum assertiveness and driving pleasure off-road. The
figures speak for themselves:
o Slope climbing ability of up to 100% on suitable surfaces
o Ground clearance between axles, plus 6 mm, now 24.1 cm
o Maximum fording depth now 70 cm when driving through
water and mud, no less than an additional 10 cm
o Stable at tilt angles of 35°, plus 7°
o Angle of departure: 30°, angle of approach: 31°, plus 1°
o Break-over angle: 26°, plus 1°
Thanks to the independent suspension, it was possible to
improve the rigidity of the body front end. A strut tower
brace, also known as a suspension bridge, now connects the
front strut towers, which increases the torsional rigidity of the
ladder-type frame.
At the rear, in contrast to the predecessor, the new rigid axle
is controlled by four trailing arms on each side and a Panhard
rod. This makes normal driving on the road even more
comfortable. In rough terrain, the rear spring jounce of 82 mm
and rebound of 142 mm plus the ground clearance of 241 mm
to the rear axle gear help to ensure a safe ride even in extreme
situations.
À la carte: “Comfort”, “Sport”, “Individual” or “Eco”
DYNAMIC SELECT is now available with up to five driving
modes for the GClass. This allows adjusting the vehicle
characteristics in seconds at the touch of a button, as the
system modifies the characteristics of the engine, transmission,
suspension, steering and assistance systems at the driver’s
behest. The four programs “Comfort”, “Sport”, “Eco” and
“Individual” can be set conveniently via the DYNAMIC
SELECT rocker switch. In “ECO” mode, a particularly fuel-
optimised driving style is possible, for example. In “Sport”
mode, on the other hand, the shift points of the automatic
transmission, the throttle response of the engine, and the
parameters of the electric steering system and the exhaust flap
are changed. “Individual” allows drivers to configure their own
preferred vehicle settings.
DYNAMIC SELECT provides a host of options in combination
with the new suspension with optional Adaptive Damping
System. The driver is then also able to modify the vehicle’s
damping characteristics in Sport and Comfort modes using the
DYNAMIC SELECT switch.
Put simply, the G-Class detects the particular condition of the
road and sets the appropriate damping characteristics, so that
the damping in terrain is stiffer, for example. In contrast, in
Sport mode the G-Class boasts a more agile response when
driving on the road.
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The new “G-Mode” paves the way where there is none
One of the prerequisites for the improved off-road handling
characteristics is the new “G-Mode”. The G-Class changes to
“G-Mode” independently of the chosen driving mode as soon
as one of the three differential locks has been activated or the
LOW RANGE off-road reduction gear has been engaged. This
off-road mode adapts the adjustable damping of the chassis
and the steering as well as the accelerator characteristic, avoids
unnecessary gear shifts and thus ensures optimum control
and maximum off-road capability. A small “G” icon discreetly
lights up in the instrument cluster. The “G” swallows rough
ground so easily that the driver is able to enjoy inch-perfect
manoeuvring even in the steepest terrain and receive excellent
feedback on the traction capacity of the surface.
On-road: agile, comfortable, superior
The specification for the G-Class not only included solidness
and superiority in rough terrain, but also enhanced driving
dynamics and comfort on paved roads. Thanks to the new
front axle design, the on-road performance of the
G-Class has therefore been enhanced at the same time. On the
road, the “G” is as agile as it is comfortable and provides the
driver with a better steering feel. The off-roader stays on track
more solidly, and is agile and effortless when driving off-road.
Using a digital prototype, the developers simulated the service
life of individual components and closed systems to find out
in which places it would be possible to make use of lighter
raw materials. The diet worked, as the G-Class has shed
around 170 kg. The recipe for success: a new mix of materials
comprising strong, high-strength, ultra-high-strength steels
and aluminium, as well as improved production processes at
the Magna Steyr plant in Austria. The rigid body shell is now
made of a variety of steel grades, while the wings, bonnet and
doors are made of aluminium.
To be able to retain the door hinges and handles typical of
the G-Class, the developers modified these to suit the new
aluminium design. The A- and Bpillars are made of high-
strength steel due to their load-bearing function. However, less
mass in no way translates into less stability – on the contrary,
it was possible to increase the torsional rigidity of the frame,
body shell and body mounts by around 55 percent, from 6,537
to 10,162 Nm/deg. Alongside improvements to the natural
driving dynamics and comfort, this also results in enhanced
quality in terms of noise levels, among other things, with the
positive effect of significantly less noise and vibrations being
noticeable in the interior when driving.
Powerful and efficient
In the new G 500* (fuel consumption, combin ed: 11.1 l/100
km; combined CO2 emissions: 263 g/km) a high-performance
4.0-litre V8 petrol engine ensures powerful propulsion. The
new biturbo produces an output of 310 kW (422 hp) and a
maximum torque of 610 Nm at 2000 to 4750 rpm.
*G 500 not confirmed for UK marketNew automatic
transmission on board
For the transfer of power, the 9GTRONIC automatic
transmission with torque converter was specifically adapted
to meet the needs of the off-road icon. The developers have
managed to reduce the shift and response times of the 9-speed
transmission by means of a dedicated software application.
, Security in Motion”