The Mercedes-Benz G-Class (affectionately called the “G-Wagon” from “Geländewagen,” German for cross-country vehicle) is one of the most – if not the most – iconic luxury 4x4s on the road. Since its debut in 1979, the G-Class has become a classic amongst both hardcore off-roading enthusiasts and those who love turning heads on the street.
Most of us, though, would not be confident to test its capabilities by ourselves, so Mercedes, through its G-Class customer programme, has created unforgettable experiences to show customers what their cars can do, apart from causing envy in others.
G-Class Expedition Desert Edition: an adventure through the Atlas Mountains and majestic dunes in Morocco
I had the chance to join a similar expedition last year. It is an incredible journey that makes you feel half 19th-century explorer – half spoilt Disney princess. This feeling was exponentially increased by where we stayed the first night: La Mamounia in Marrakech, one of the best hotels in the world.
We drove over the imposing Atlas towards the dramatic Dadès – known for their dramatic cliffs and gorges. Once the mountains were behind us, we reached the Dadès valley, rich with Berber villages, ancient kasbahs and the river of the same name, which creates a fertile oasis amidst the arid landscapes.
The variety of terrain – including dunes the size of buildings, rocks as big as bears and thigh-deep water crossings – put the drivers’ and the cars’ abilities to the test, allowing the experts from Mercedes-Benz to explain the different engineering marvels their cars are equipped with to make short work of all of it. The fleet for this expedition includes the G 450 model, the new all-electric G 580 with EQ Technology and the special-edition Mercedes-AMG G 63 4×4².
Left: driving over the dunes in the Merzouga Desert, known for the impressive Erg Chebbi sand dunes, the highest in the Sahara.
Right: driving Passageway in the Dades Gorge near the town of Tinghir, southern Morocco. Photo: Nawfal Kharbach.
The official programme consists of a five-day event which starts and finishes at a five-star hotel in Marrakech. The 4×4 challenges include driving through the Atlas Mountains and the Dadès, the Anti-Atlas Mountains and the Merzouga Desert. The off-the-beaten-track route has a lunch stop at the famous crater Gara Medouar, where parts of the James Bond film Spectre were shot. The romantics amongst you will love sunset at an exclusive outdoor camp in the desert.
There are six events planned this year from October to November. Limited to 20 customers. Bookings are priced at €14,990 and can be made HERE.
G-Class Experience: pushing the legendary SUV to the limits on- and off-road
This is like going to Legoland for off-roading fanatics. The action happens on Mercedes-Benz’s unique adventure playground in Graz covering 100,000sqm. It tests the incredible potential of the G-Class in all possible ways you could think of.
There are the G Rock climbing challenges, sloping roads, dog-leg turns, surprising twists and water crossings in the forest so deep they should be renamed “swimming”. Experienced instructors help each driver to explore the vehicle’s capabilities on different surfaces and gradients. It is here that I learnt to handle the three differential locks, two of which had been as mysterious as space travel to me before.
When you think your body has zero adrenaline left, you are taken – as a passenger – to The Iron Schöckl, a steel structure that mimics Graz’s local mountain, which Mercedes-Benz uses for test driving, and which is considered the toughest off-road track in the world.
Scenes from a driving day at the Mercedes G-Class Experience Center. Left: wading through the 85cm-deep water course. Middle: attacking the 80 percent climb at full speed. Right: the “Iron Schöckl” – a metallic ramp with a 100 percent incline (45° angle).
The journey begins with a “moderate” 80 percent incline which quickly becomes 100 percent and finishes with a stop on the way down at another nerve-breaking 100 percent incline. Now you know why the G-Class has a grab handle on the dashboard.
In the on-road module, skills are pushed to the limit with extreme braking, evasive manoeuvres and slalom courses, including an ice-driving simulation that I must admit I didn’t quite master (I am from Andalucía).
A day at the Mercedes-Benz G-Class Experience Center
I loved it so much that at the end of the day, upon being given my official certificate, I kissed the ground and declared: “Heaven is a place in Graz.”
The G-Class Experience takes place every year from April to November and includes a factory visit. Limited to 24 guests/three groups at a price of €2,490 (€2,990 for two persons). Book it HERE.
Private Coaching: the ultimate thrill on the legendary Schöckl mountain test track
This is a two-day adventure consisting of the above G-Class Experience on the first day and, on day two, guests learn first-hand the meaning of the “Schöckl proved” quality assurance.
The privileged customers who get to do this drive on the legendary Schöckl test track – a supremely challenging 5.6km course on the 1,445m Schöckl mountain near Graz. For over four decades, this is the place where every G-Class has been tested to prove its off-road capabilities. Every G-Class during development must complete at least 2,000km on this brutal course, earning its off-road credentials through what engineers call “torture testing”.
Left: climb up the Schöckl mountain test track, which features gradients of up to 60 percent and lateral inclinations of up to 40 percent, making it one of the most punishing automotive proving grounds in the world.
Right: our Editor-in-Chief, Julia Pasarón, playfully ‘lifts’ a Mercedes G-Class during a photo stop on the challenging Shockl mountain test track, where the off-road vehicle balances dramatically on three wheels.
Please do not eat copiously before this experience, nor choose a complicated hairdo for the day. What starts like a gentle drive on tarmac roads through green fields and bucolic forests quickly turns to gravel tracks, then simply wilderness, with gradients of up to 60 percent and inclines of 40 percent. The G-Class climbs like a spider over knee-high ledges and enormous jagged rocks on one or two wheels, navigating through deep ravines and sunken trails, whilst weaving around massive, thick-trunked trees and sheer cliff faces. So very useful to have mastered the three differential locks the day before!
This event can be booked from April until November at €9,950 for two people. The package includes two nights’ accommodation with breakfast at the partner hotel in Graz, culinary highlights at the G-Class Experience Centre and a welcome dinner in Graz city centre. Bookings available by email: welcome@g-class-experience.com
Author: Julia Pasarón
Show Comments +