Mercedes-Benz starts G-Class Cabriolet testing in Austria

Mercedes-Benz reports the new G-Class Cabriolet has begun testing in Austria, with winter trials in Sweden next. Read what the program signals now.

Mercedes-Benz is putting the new open-top G-Class through serious testing: prototypes of the G-Class Cabriolet have begun road and test-track trials in Austria, with demanding winter evaluations in Sweden scheduled to follow. The company says the G-Class family is expanding after a “hugely positive response” to early teaser details, and stresses that engineers are gathering comprehensive data to ensure the unmistakable G-Class experience carries over to an open-roof format.

The Austrian phase makes sense not only for public-road mileage and controlled runs, but also because of the model’s long-standing ties to the Graz region. The G-Class is closely associated with dedicated off-road infrastructure there, and the Schöckl test route has become a reference point for the nameplate’s capability work—known for its short but punishing climb, steep gradients and pronounced side inclines that help validate traction and composure.

Next comes Sweden. Mercedes-Benz is already flagging a winter test block where the newcomer must prove itself on ice and snow, in low temperatures designed to push robustness, driving dynamics and reliability. The brand has prior experience running prototype winter programs in northern Sweden—including the Arjeplog area and work in cold chambers—so the shift to these conditions fits an established development playbook.

Technical specifics and a launch timeline remain under wraps for now, with Mercedes-Benz saying more details will follow later. Still, the move from teaser to a structured test program—starting with first kilometres in Austria and progressing to full winter validation—signals that development is accelerating. If the data backs the promise of an open-top G-Class that still feels distinctly like a G, the line-up will gain a rare take on the off-road icon, built to spark fresh interest without leaning on anything but proven durability.