Since its inception in 1979, the G-Class has been a benchmark in the realm of rugged off-road vehicles.
To this day, over 50,000 units of the "Big G" delivered globally are still on the road, demonstrating its status as a timeless off-road icon and a stable “hard currency” that retains its value.
In 2024, this legendary family, which has spanned 45 years, welcomes a new member—the all-new fully electric G-Class off-road vehicle. Its arrival marks the filling of a gap in the realm of electric luxury “rugged off-roading.”
This year also marks the eleventh year of Mercedes-Benz's “The Earth is Our Path” SUV journey.
Over the past decade, this in-depth driving experience, combining a family of SUVs, explorations of nature's unknowns, unique cultural experiences, and discussions on corporate social responsibility, has created a comprehensive journey for customers to deeply experience the brand spirit and the excellent performance of its products. Through refinement and innovation, it has evolved beyond just a tailored deep product experience platform for the SUV family, becoming one of the brand's benchmark customer experience platforms.
In 2024, as it initiates a new decade of exploration, the all-new G-Class off-road vehicle will traverse thousands of miles for the first time with a powerful duo of petrol and electric vehicles, leading the latest product lineup of the Mercedes-Benz SUV family from the majestic Changbai Mountain in the eastern part of the country in September to the magnificent Pamir Plateau in the west in November. This journey across the east and west showcases the extraordinary capabilities of the Mercedes-Benz SUV family and demonstrates an unwavering courageous spirit in exploring the unknown world.
The Southern Xinjiang region is located at the far western edge of China's geographical map, where each secret spot offers world-class scenery.
In November, the Mercedes SUV journey meticulously selected the “Aksu-Kashgar” route, covering 8 of the most representative terrains in Southern Xinjiang over 6 days, including deserts, plateaus, snow-capped mountains, lakes, wetlands, river valleys, oases, and glaciers, with altitudes ranging from 1,100 meters to 4,200 meters. Participants will depart from Aksu, traverse the “King of Canyons”—Wensu Tianshan Tomur Canyon, enjoy the magical landscape where the white sands meet the lake and the mountains, closely experience the majestic splendor of Murtagh Peak, known as the "Father of Glaciers," encounter the tranquil purity of Bandier Blue Lake, and ascend through the winding Long Dragon Valley with 600 hairpin turns to witness the breathtaking grandeur of the Pamir Plateau, the "Roof of the World," culminating in Kashgar.
The introduction of the all-new G-Class off-road vehicle family, along with the 2025 model year long-wheelbase GLC plug-in hybrid SUV, further enriches the product lineup for this Mercedes-Benz SUV journey, featuring 17 SUV models across Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-AMG, Mercedes-Maybach, and the G-Class brand.
In the Wensu Tomur Canyon, renowned as the "King of Canyons," four crossing routes encompass various off-road conditions, fully showcasing the unique and equally powerful off-road capabilities of the GLS SUV, GLE SUV, GLC SUV, as well as the EQE pure electric SUV and the EQS pure electric SUV.
Notably, during the G-Class only off-road experience, the all-new G 500 and the all-new AMG G 63 deliver even greater performance after their full electrification. The new Mercedes-AMG G 63, in particular, boasts a more powerful setup, featuring a unique “one man, one machine” AMG 4.0-liter V8 twin-turbocharged engine with a maximum output of 430 kW and peak torque of 850 Nm, along with the newly added ISG intelligent motor system providing an instantaneous boost of 15 kW and 200 Nm of additional power, reducing the 0-100 km/h acceleration time to just 4.4 seconds.
At the same time, along the winding roads of the canyon, participants also had their first opportunity to personally experience the luxury of the all-new fully electric G-Class off-road vehicle, which offers a more user-friendly off-road experience compared to previous models.
It is reported that the all-new fully electric G-Class off-road vehicle is equipped with four independently controlled wheel-side motors, offering a maximum power of 432 kW and maximum torque of 1,164 Nm, with a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 4.9 seconds. Each motor features an electric two-speed transmission, enabling high-precision torque vector control and achieving an electric virtual differential lock function. The non-load-bearing body has been newly developed for the electric model, integrating the dual-layer battery layout within a trapezoidal frame to lower the vehicle's center of gravity. Based on the intelligent torque vector distribution system, the all-new fully electric G-Class off-road vehicle introduces three new off-road functions: “off-road crawl” for intelligent off-road climbing, “G-TURN” for spot turns, and “G-STEERING” for off-road drifting—collectively known as “the new three-piece set for off-roading,” providing enhanced off-road capabilities and an unprecedented off-roading experience.
Additionally, its newly equipped 122 kWh battery pack enables a comprehensive range of 571 km (CLTC conditions), allowing it to tackle the challenging 5.6 km long German Shackle Mountain test track up to 14 times on a single charge.
The all-new fully electric G-Class off-road vehicle features the unique “G-ROAR” exclusive simulated sound, which accompanies the charging process and triggers a series of interactive driving sounds during the welcome and farewell phases, ignition, and shutdown.
The winding Long Dragon Valley is a must-see spot during the Southern Xinjiang journey, boasting over 600 tortuous S-bends and U-shaped curves, with elevations climbing abruptly from 3,000 meters to 4,200 meters. It serves as a natural testbed for vehicle power and handling, further highlighting the extraordinary driving capabilities of the AMG GLC 43 and AMG GLE 53 models, the supreme luxury of the Maybach EQS pure electric SUV and Maybach GLS SUV, and demonstrating the innovative technical prowess and powerful performance of the all-new G 500 with its inline six-cylinder twin-turbocharged engine + ISG intelligent motor.
Indeed, throughout the six-day journey, aside from the “petrol-electric dual powerhouse” G-Class, the two Maybach models were particularly favored. The Maybach EQS pure electric SUV and Maybach GLS SUV provided guests with a serene sleeping environment even over the bumpiest of off-road segments.
Among them, the Maybach EQS pure electric SUV is Mercedes-Maybach’s first mass-produced pure electric model and is the most luxurious electric vehicle under the Mercedes-Benz umbrella. It features a black closed grille paired with the iconic Maybach grille and three-pointed star emblem; a handcrafted two-tone paint finish; iconic chrome accents, Maybach branding, and the "MAYBACH" lettering adorn the body, with multiple Maybach emblem patterns gracing the sides of the bumper in a signature “Maybach old flower” design style.
As the first full-sized luxury pure electric model with four seats in the Mercedes-Benz family, it ushers in a first-class rear-seat experience into the electric era: standard first-class rear individual seats, recline adjustment of up to 43.5 degrees, equipped with seat ventilation, heating, and eight massage functions, with even the leg rest position featuring a massage function, providing neck and shoulder heating options, while an optional rear legroom extension component offers additional space for the right rear passenger. It comes standard with an intelligent on-demand four-wheel drive system (4MATIC all-wheel drive) and features a Maybach-exclusive driving mode, elevating passenger comfort to new heights.
SUVs symbolize robust off-road capabilities and exceptional comfort, embodying people's pursuits of freedom and adventure. With strong R&D capabilities, Mercedes-Benz has built an SUV product lineup that promises, “No matter petrol or electric, it's still a Mercedes,” covering electric, fuel, and hybrid drive forms, spanning the full spectrum from new generation SUVs to full-size SUVs.
After thoroughly testing the complete Mercedes-Benz SUV lineup across the eight terrains of Southern Xinjiang, we witnessed how the Mercedes-Benz SUV family continuously leads various niche markets in the SUV segment, meeting diverse customer desires, whether for a driving experience that encompasses both petrol and electricity with the 2025 long-wheelbase GLC plug-in hybrid SUV, which combines exhilarating power, exceptional efficiency, and luxurious driving quality; seeking a comfortable, luxurious off-road experience with the GLS SUV and GLE SUV offering various choices from the large seven-seater to the spacious five-seater; desiring aesthetic beauty and multi-functionality with the GLE Coupe SUV and GLC Coupe SUV providing a dual experience of emotion and reason; searching for a powerful luxury electric vehicle with comprehensive upgrades in the latest EQE pure electric SUV that is smarter and more comfortable; craving ultimate performance with the new AMG GLC 43 SUV and Coupe SUV, delivering pure driving pleasure derived from the racetrack; or aspiring to have both supreme luxury and electrifying driving fun, the all-new Maybach EQS pure electric SUV is the only choice currently available in the ultra-luxury SUV market.
Chinese people love the scenery of mountains and rivers, seeking a place to find peace for their souls. Breathtaking views can be found in perilous peaks, and a good vehicle can help you reach the most beautiful landscapes.
In a journey where nature meets culture, participants deeply experienced the formidable prowess of the Mercedes-Benz SUV family—whether electric or petrol—feeling the spirit of fearless exploration. The core spirit of the Mercedes-Benz SUV journey is “Protecting the World within,” aimed at awakening a profound connection between people and nature, inspiring reverence for the natural world and resonating within one's heart.
“Protecting the World within” encapsulates the rugged spirit of off-roading, as well as Mercedes-Benz’s unwavering pursuit of the spirit of exploration and its commitment to a vision of harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature.
