Could the Mercedes-AMG ‘Baby G’ be available for the UK market?

With the launch of the Mercedes EQG, an all-electric G-Class, expected to be announced before the end of 2023 with sales set to start in 2024, rumours have once again been circulating about the possibility of the Stuttgart carmaker producing a ‘Baby G’, a compact version of the marque’s iconic off-roader.

Talk of a smaller G-Class, variously named the ‘Mini-G’ or ‘Baby-G’, by writers, has been in the air since 2012 after images of a small concept SUV called the Mercedes Ener G Force were circulated. Nothing came from those early thoughts of how the G-Class could be developed into a wider range of highly capable off-road vehicles. In the interim, the G-Class developed into an icon of the 4x4 market and, during the pandemic, became one of the most highly sought-after vehicles in the world, almost-new examples trading for considerably over the retail price.

While some of the hype surrounding the G-Class has died down, the vehicle is still one of the most recognisable cars on the road today, so much so that German high-performance aftermarket company Brabus produce a conversion kit that can transform a standard G63 into a fire-breathing 900hp six-wheeled monster called the XLP 900 6x6 Superblack.

A ‘Mini-G’ already exists. Kind of. Japanese custom house Liberty Walk currently produces a kit that can transform a Suzuki Jimny into a very good ¾-scale replica of the G-Class (pictured above) and apparently from a distance it’s hard to tell the two apart.

With all the hype surrounding the G-Class, it’s no wonder that car journalists started a deeper investigation into whether a small ‘entry-level’ G-Class might be being considered by Mercedes-AMG engineers, especially as Ford has achieved success with revised versions of the Bronco.

German media reported early in 2023 that Mercedes was indeed considering a Mini-G. The new vehicle, they suggested, would utilise the company’s MMA platform to produce a shrunken version of the existing car and, indeed, a test vehicle was photographed late last year which suggested that the concept was actively being developed.

Unfortunately for the EU and UK markets, even if a ‘Mini-G’ was to be produced, it is unlikely to be for home markets. Asia, and especially China, along with the US are key markets for Mercedes and if such a vehicle was to see the light of day, it was be those fortunate countries that would be prioritised.

Which is a shame because a ‘Baby G’ would be a phenomenal success in the UK and, in particular, in London. Offered with an all-electric powertrain you could almost say it would be the perfect vehicle for the trend-conscious environmentally-friendly young driver living in the city.

Until that dream becomes a reality, we’ll have to look forward to the EQG, hopefully in 2024, and, in the meantime, enjoy the presence and power of the current Mercedes G63, examples of which can be hired from EV Hire.However, a small G-Class with the incredible power and torque of an all-electric drive….? We can only dream…..and hope.