The bodywork team
For the right appearance – on every stage
Besides being in charge of the bodyshell, the bodywork team also takes care of the exterior fittings and entire interior equipment. Just as in the responsibility for other component groups, we give highest priority to built quality, robustness and functionality in the development of body structures for the different G-Class variants. This priority created its characteristic form, which has consequently become a design classic.
The bodywork is bolted to the leader-type frame, finished with exterior fittings and refined with a resistible paint work. Being an indestructible cross-country vehicle, special requirements are demanded of the G-Class regarding durability as well as short overhangs and exterior dimensions. Therefore, especially the underbody has to be protected against rough damages in off-road deployment. Furthermore, the interior and all parts being sensitive to water need to be thoroughly sealed for wading. On top of the massive stability of all bodywork steel components, which also facilitate a high roof load, the G-Class is fitted with underbody skidplates and protective mouldings at the side panels to absorb external impacts.
In the interior development we attach great importance to comfort, qualitative materials and high class workmanship. The interior incorporates the functional and clean design vocabulary of the exterior and thereby creates a very user friendly cockpit with a timeless touch. Naturally, the bodywork team’s field of responsibility also includes the topics for passive safety, which Mercedes-Benz is traditionally committed to. The safety performance of the G-Class is a crucial point in the complete vehicle design and interior development. The optimisation of safety determines the composition of interior components, their injury reducing positioning, as well as the integration of modern occupant restraint systems, like airbags and seat-belts with pretensioning system as well as force limitation. Furthermore, the G-Class is the only vehicle with its tank behind the rear axle that has passed the demanding rear crash test checking for tank leaks by the North American National Highway Traffic Safety Association. Innovations like these emphasise our engineering competence as well as the safety of the G-Class.
The bodywork is bolted to the leader-type frame, finished with exterior fittings and refined with a resistible paint work. Being an indestructible cross-country vehicle, special requirements are demanded of the G-Class regarding durability as well as short overhangs and exterior dimensions. Therefore, especially the underbody has to be protected against rough damages in off-road deployment. Furthermore, the interior and all parts being sensitive to water need to be thoroughly sealed for wading. On top of the massive stability of all bodywork steel components, which also facilitate a high roof load, the G-Class is fitted with underbody skidplates and protective mouldings at the side panels to absorb external impacts.
In the interior development we attach great importance to comfort, qualitative materials and high class workmanship. The interior incorporates the functional and clean design vocabulary of the exterior and thereby creates a very user friendly cockpit with a timeless touch. Naturally, the bodywork team’s field of responsibility also includes the topics for passive safety, which Mercedes-Benz is traditionally committed to. The safety performance of the G-Class is a crucial point in the complete vehicle design and interior development. The optimisation of safety determines the composition of interior components, their injury reducing positioning, as well as the integration of modern occupant restraint systems, like airbags and seat-belts with pretensioning system as well as force limitation. Furthermore, the G-Class is the only vehicle with its tank behind the rear axle that has passed the demanding rear crash test checking for tank leaks by the North American National Highway Traffic Safety Association. Innovations like these emphasise our engineering competence as well as the safety of the G-Class.