Is 2017 the last W463?

[HeliNomad]

I have to admit that the reason I waited almost a year for the 2017 over the 2016 was because of the rumored 2018 update on the G-Wagen. From the spy shots, it's clearly getting softened up, widened, lowered, etc... This is all likely due to emission standards, pedestrian impact, cost, etc. So is the 2017 the last W463? Dare we say it's the last real G-Wagen? Will the 2017 be more collectable as a result? Thoughts?

 

[Jason911]

Plan on it receiving IFS, but beyond that, you might look to Scott Brady - he very well may be in the know, but its whether or not he can divulge.

 

[HeliNomad]

Plan on it receiving IFS, but beyond that, you might look to Scott Brady - he very well may be in the know, but its whether or not he can divulge.

IFS?!?!?! Man I didn't hear about that from the spy articles... That's a deal breaker. Before I got my G550 all I read about was how bad they are on road but in my opinion it's actually quite good. Of course I'm coming from an AEV JK350 and a D110 NAS before that. Hopefully someone more in the know can chime in here.

 

[Jason911]

Thats what the rumor mill has been generating anyway. Some of the spy shots elsewhere on the web indicate the same. Think there was a thread elsewhere on here about the same thing. Beyond that, it supposed to retain the 463 designation, but be something like 440lbs lighter than the current, plus the aforementioned wider and lower, and IFS would certainly play into that. I cannot confirm it, but if you dig deep enough you might find something similar.

 

[Jason911]

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/160303-2017-Mercedes-G-Wagon-Spied

video in the above thread. at the 48 second mark you can see the IFS.

 

[thebigblue]

Maybe the G 350 Professional (W463) will stay on a few years more to keep military and such content....:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umGxPZnIxSs

 

[swb]

I think the production line is versatile enough to create many variations if enough orders are placed. The W461 should be in production for some time for military and fleet orders. (Note the W461 cab-chassis has just been released to the public in Australia)
However it would not surprise me if the W463 stops completely when the W464 ramps up production and if the W463 "Professional" is successful they may well produce a W464 "Professional" (which is mostly cosmetic anyway)