Mercedes-Benz has taken one of the most uncompromising off-road vehicles ever built and given it something it has never really chased before. Comfort.
To mark 80 years of the Unimog, Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks has unveiled a luxury show car based on the Unimog U 4023. It has been developed with conversion specialist Hellgeth Engineering and is intended to explore what happens when serious off-road hardware meets premium expectations.
The Unimog, after all, is not a lifestyle vehicle. It is designed to go where roads do not exist and continue doing so long after conditions turn unfriendly. This one still does that, but now you can arrive without feeling like you have survived an expedition.
At its core is the familiar Unimog U 4023 platform, complete with portal axles, a flexible ladder frame, selectable all-wheel drive and locking differentials on both axles. These remain untouched because they are the reason the Unimog exists.
The change begins with the engine. The standard four-cylinder unit has been replaced by Mercedes’ six-cylinder OM936 diesel, producing around 295 bhp. More importantly, it brings smoother delivery and improved drivability, rather than chasing outright numbers. Transmission tuning has also been revised to better suit long-distance and mixed-use driving.
The double cab seats up to four occupants and introduces a level of finish previously unfamiliar to the Unimog name. Quilted leather seats, leather floor mats, contrast stitching, and ambient LED lighting replace the usual wipe-clean functionality. A MirrorCam system eliminates conventional mirrors, using cameras and in-cab displays to improve visibility and reduce blind spots.
Outside, the look leans deliberately towards modern luxury SUVs. Matte grey paint, aluminium beadlock wheels and a distinctive LED lighting signature give it presence without tipping into excess. It still looks industrial, just deliberately so.
Mercedes is clear that this remains a one-off show car for now. Next year, it will be handed to a customer for real-world use to gather feedback ahead of any potential production decision. Translation: this is a feasibility study with mud on its boots.
Whether it ever reaches a showroom remains to be seen. But as a statement, it is clear enough. Even the toughest machines, it turns out, are allowed a little indulgence.
