Ford planning a more affordable Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen rival – report

Lincoln, Ford's luxury division, is reportedly preparing a luxury body-on-frame SUV to take on the Mercedes-Benz G-Class.

Two sources have told the Detroit Free Press Lincoln's G-Class rival will be based on the Ford Bronco, which shares its platform with the Australian-engineered Ranger ute and Everest SUV.

Said to be entering production in the middle of 2029, the new SUV will be built alongside its platform mates in Wayne, Michigan. Given the current Bronco was launched in 2021, the timing seems to suggest the new Lincoln will be based on the next-generation Bronco.

According to AutoForecast Solutions, the new Lincoln off-roader already has a model code, indicating development work is under way. It should be noted, however, that Ford and other automakers have been known to spike new models when economic circumstances or regulatory situations change.

A dealer told the newspaper the starting price for Lincoln's G-rival could be as low as US$70,000 (A$98,300). If true, that would place it well below the Navigator, the brand's only other body-on-frame SUV, which starts at US$89,895 (A$120,000) and is pitched against the Cadillac Escalade. 

It would also mean the new Lincoln will be significantly cheaper than the G-Class, which Stateside kicks off at US$153,900 (A$216,100) for the base G550 and US$198,750 (A$279,100) for the AMG G63.

For reference, the Bronco model walk begins at US$40,795 (A$57,300) for the base model with a 2.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, and extends all the way to US$80,990 (A$113,700) for the Raptor that's powered by a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6.

It's unclear how much differentiation there will be between the Bronco and the new Lincoln, but for the last decade or so the luxury brand has been putting a lot more effort into separating its vehicles from their Ford siblings.

The Navigator, for example, is based on the Ford Expedition, but has unique front and rear ends, as well as a redesigned and more upscale interior. Indeed, Lincoln's two other vehicles, the Explorer-based Aviator and the Edge-based Nautilus, share no body panels or interior design elements with their Ford counterparts.

The Nautilus is also one of the few vehicles imported from China to the United States in spite of steep tariffs..

It will be interesting to see how Lincoln marries its emphasis on luxury and waftability with the brash power and go-anywhere sensibility exemplified by the G-Class.

Ford isn't the only company that's been keen on muscling onto the G-Wagen's turf, with reports indicating BMW gave serious thought to developing an off-roading rival.

By July this year, though, the Bavarian automaker reportedly kiboshed the idea as projected sales weren't enough to justify the development costs.

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