G-Class Cabriolet 2026: 4-door legend returns! Since Mercedes W460 througt Mercedes W463 history, Refined Marques G63 (1.3M€), Maybach Landaulet V12. 585 HP V8 engines, prototype tests. Ultimate off-road luxury convertible! Mercedes G-Class coming to convertible!
The world of convertibles is typically sleek lines, low driving position, and a battle for aerodynamics. But sometimes it appears – square, absurd, and dripping with luxury. The Mercedes G-Class without a roof is the unicorn of motoring. In recent months, this unicorn hasn’t just shown up; it’s brought a whole herd with it.
Before we dive into the sensational news from Stuttgart about the big return of the production model in 2026, we need to look at what was happening behind the scenes while Mercedes made us wait, and what the history of this off-road topless icon is like.
History Without a Roof: From Proving Ground to Boulevard
Before we get excited about the future, we must understand how long and bumpy the road has been for the G-Class without a roof. It’s a story of evolution from a farming tool to a status symbol, where luxury appeared gradually, like moss on a rock.
Importantly, for over 30 years, the open “Gelendwagons” had one common feature: they were based on a short wheelbase (SWB) and had only two doors.
1. Spartan Era: Mercedes W460 (1979–1990)
In the beginning was the word, and that word was “utility.” The first open G-Class had nothing to do with luxury. It was a car for foresters, the military, and farmers.
Luxury: None. Bare metal interior in body color, rubber floor mats, checkered seats (“karo”), and a manually removable, complicated frame with a tarpaulin that broke fingernails.
Under the hood: Pain and suffering on asphalt. Dominated by weak diesels (e.g., 240 GD with 72 HP) and basic petrol engines (230 GE, 280 GE). Performance was measured with a calendar, not a stopwatch.
2. Civilization: Early Mercedes W463 (1990–2000)
The 1990s brought a revolution coded W463. That’s when the G-Class got permanent all-wheel drive and, more importantly, an interior resembling Mercedes passenger cars.
Luxury: Wood (walnut root) appeared, along with leather and air conditioning. The roof still required manual handling (though the construction was better).
Under the hood: Things started getting interesting. Popular G 300 GE or G 320 (inline-6) allowed for smooth overtaking.
3. Golden Era: W463 Facelift (2001–2013)
This is the model that today fetches astronomical prices at youngtimer auctions. The last and most refined form of the short Cabrio.
- Luxury: Full throttle. The key change was the introduction of an electro-hydraulic roof. Pressing a button folded the “tent” in a dozen seconds, that was the ticket to the premium world. Inside: COMAND system, ventilated seats, Designo leather.
- Under the hood: This is where the G 500 Cabrio legend was born. Naturally aspirated V8 with 296 HP (later 388 HP) sounded like a bomber taking off with the roof down. Also offered was the armored diesel G 320 CDI/G 400 CDI, combining massive torque with wind in the hair.
End of an Era: Final Edition 200 (2013)
In 2013, Mercedes said “enough.” Production ended with the limited “Final Edition 200” series (only 200 units, all with a 5.5-liter V8 engine). From that moment, for over a decade, there was a gaping hole in Mercedes’ lineup, which only the ultra-expensive Maybach Landaulet mentioned earlier tried to patch.
Refined Marques: When You Don’t Want to Wait for the Factory
The gap after withdrawing the short, two-door G-Class Cabrio (in 2013) was huge. German tuner and luxury car dealer Refined Marques decided to fill it. They created something Mercedes had feared to introduce for years: the Mercedes-AMG G 63 Cabriolet.
This isn’t just cutting the roof with a Bosch in the garage. It’s an engineering masterpiece limited to just 20 units worldwide. What sets it apart?
- “Suicide Doors”: To solve the problem of difficult rear seat access (the curse of the old two-door G Cabrio), Refined Marques used small rear doors opening against the wind – like in a Rolls-Royce.
- AMG Heart: Under the hood roars a mighty 4.0 V8 Biturbo producing 585 HP.
- Price: 1.3 million euros, as they were sold out. Now “available” only second-hand.
Spiritual Ancestor: Maybach G 650 Landaulet
When talking about the open “Gelenda,” it’s impossible to skip the absolute peak of extravagance, the Mercedes-Maybach G 650 Landaulet presented in 2017.
However, it was a different breed: Landaulet is a semi-open body (I’ll write about this solution soon), the driver and front passenger sat under a rigid roof, while wind in the hair (and champagne in the glass) was only for VIPs in the rear seats. Powered by a monumental V12, on a squared 4×4 chassis (portal axles), it was a monument to luxurious excess. But it still wasn’t a “full” convertible for the driver, but rather for the chauffeur.
Official Return: New G-Class Cabrio (2026)
And here we reach the news that electrified the market in December 2025. No more half-measures and limited tuner series. Mercedes-Benz has officially confirmed work on a production G-Class Cabrio.
Automotive spies have already caught camouflaged prototypes during winter tests. The biggest revolution? Everything points to the new factory model being four-door. Mercedes wants to combine wind-catcher fun with practicality, targeting the niche of luxury “beach cruisers,” which is currently empty (unless we count the Jeep Wrangler, but that’s a different price league).
Official Mercedes-Benz press photo, December 2025 Source: Mercedes-Benz Media
What’s Under the Hood? Predicted Technical Data
Although the official spec is still a secret, we can predict the engine lineup with high confidence based on the current post-facelift G-Class (W463). The Cabrio will almost certainly take over the drives from the closed version, enhanced with a mild-hybrid system (ISG).
Here’s what we can expect (estimated data):
| Version | Engine | Power (HP) + Boost (ISG) | Torque (Nm) | 0-100 km/h (estimate)* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G 500 | 3.0 I6 Petrol | 449 HP + 20 HP | 560 Nm | ~5.6 s |
| G 450 d | 3.0 I6 Diesel | 367 HP + 20 HP | 750 Nm | ~6.0 s |
| AMG G 63 | 4.0 V8 Biturbo | 585 HP + 20 HP | 850 Nm | ~4.5 s |
*Performance may be slightly worse than the closed version due to higher roof mechanism weight and poorer aerodynamics (though with brick-like aero, the roof doesn’t change much).
Notably, the G 500 has changed, the legendary V8 gave way to an inline “six,” but electric assistance keeps dynamics at top level. Interestingly, a giant like Mercedes is returning to “not-just-electric” tracks, which makes me very happy.
In My Opinion
You know my heart beats to the rhythm of roadsters (like Mercedes-Benz SLK R170). Usually, when a car weighs over two tons and has the aerodynamics of a truck in reverse, I break out in a rash. A convertible should be low, agile, and stick to the asphalt on mountain passes. But… looking at this new roofless Gelenda, I’m glad such cars are being made. Where the G-Class Cabrio can go, common convertibles have no access: in my head, I see an open roof on a mountain meadow under a starry sky.
There’s something so irrationally fascinating about this car. It’s not for shaving fractions of seconds on the track. It’s a yacht on wheels you can drive to the top of a dune, open the roof, and listen to the V8 roar (if you choose the AMG version) echoing off the sky. Though I’ve always said “lower and lighter,” I promise you, as soon as this tank gets into my hands, I’ll check if wind in the hair tastes the same at two meters off the ground.
