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Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon tipped


The six-wheeled Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon currently under test by the Australian military is also being considered for a civilian future Down Under. There are customers queued for the car but before it gets a go-ahead it must be cleared from Austria.

"There is nothing else like it. There is demand," says David McCarthy, spokesman for Mercedes-Benz Australia. It's fair to say that if we had a civilian version we would be holding a considerable number of orders. We're scoping that with Magna-Steyr in Graz in Austria."

Benz has won a major defence contract with the G-Wagon and is also working on a civilian version of the standard four-wheel drive model. It will also re-introduce the fully luxury G-Wagon - complete with leather and wood in the cabin - early next year.

"The first few vehicles, which are the G350 and G55, will be here sometime in November. It's very small numbers. The first cars for customers will be in the new year," says McCarthy.

But with the G-Wagon program underway and solid military support, the focus is shifting to the potential for extra civilian sales.

"The vehicles are suitable for mining, farming, fire-fighting, that sort of thing. We'll have an evaluation cab-chassis and station wagon here soon and we're talking to Austria about the six-wheeler," says McCarthy.

The four-wheel drive is looking good but it's the full-on heavy artillery which needs more work.

"We've had discussions with mining companies and others, and they are very interested in the vehicle. But this is by no means a done deal. We need to make a business case," he says. "We have to find out if they can make a civilian version at a price and specification to meet the customer's needs.

"It's fair to say there is very strong interest in this vehicle. Not just for it's off-road ability but for its durability, safety and is capabilities. It's a bit of a flexible platform, and there is local involvement in the body modules, so there is a huge potential. We just need to make a business case."

The military six-wheeler is being tested alongside the four-wheeler in Australia, Germany and Austria so that deliveries can begin next year. The plan is to have 1200 in the Australian Defence Force by the end of 2013.

"This vehicle was developed uniquely for the ADF. A civilian version might look similar but would be significantly different. There are components of the military vehicle that have very different specifications," McCarthy says.