FOR UNIMOG'S 80TH ANNIVERSARY, MERCEDES-BENZ SPECIAL TRUCKS CHUCKED SOME LUXURY AT IT.
As Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks gears up to celebrate 80 years of Unimog in 2026, it’s chosen a fitting way to mark the milestone: by building the most powerful off-road Unimog ever, and giving it a distinctly premium twist. Created as a one-off luxury show car in collaboration with Hellgeth Engineering, this machine takes the Unimog’s famously unstoppable off-road DNA and dials everything up. More power. More comfort. More presence. Based on the hardcore Unimog platform used in the toughest civilian and military roles, this bespoke build explores what happens when legendary capability meets high-end engineering and design. It’s not just a showpiece either, the vehicle will be tested by a customer in real-world conditions next year, feeding valuable insight into what a future high-performance, luxury-oriented Unimog could become.
To understand why this matters, you need to understand what Unimog is. Short for Universal-Motor-Gerät, the Unimog was conceived in the late 1940s as a do-everything machine for agriculture, industry, emergency services, and the military. Over eight decades, it’s earned a near-mythical reputation for going places other vehicles simply cannot, thanks to features like portal axles, extreme axle articulation, a flexible ladder frame, and exceptional ground clearance. Unimog isn’t an off-road vehicle in the lifestyle sense - it’s a tool, a workhorse, and a global icon of mechanical ingenuity. From mountain rescue to desert expeditions, snowploughs to military convoys, Unimog has quietly become the gold standard for all-terrain mobility. This new luxury concept doesn’t dilute that legacy; it builds on it.
At its core, the show car is based on the Unimog U 4023, already one of the most capable off-road platforms on the planet. Selectable all-wheel drive, longitudinal and differential locks, and portal axles remain untouched, but power now comes from a Mercedes-Benz OM 936 six-cylinder engine producing 220 kW, which is a significant upgrade over the standard 4-banger. Transmission tuning has been optimised for smoother delivery, while a double cab accommodates up to four occupants in genuine comfort. Technology steps up too, with MirrorCam replacing traditional mirrors for improved visibility and safety. Visually, the Unimog takes on a bold new character: matte grey paint, aluminium beadlock wheels, SUV-inspired detailing, and a sharp LED lighting signature. Inside, premium leather, contrast stitching, leather floor mats, and ambient LED lighting transform the cab into a space that feels more expedition luxury than utility truck.
This luxury Unimog is a statement piece, proof that even after 80 years, the platform still has room to evolve. It respects its roots, celebrates its unmatched off-road credentials, and dares to imagine a future where absolute capability and refined comfort coexist. For Unimog fans, it’s a tantalising glimpse of what could be next for one of Mercedes-Benz’s most extraordinary creations.
Take a look at the YouTube video hosted by the REC Anything crew that takes a closer and cooler look at this special version of the iconic Unimog - we like, a lot: New Mercedes Unimog Luxury (2026) - The G Class Killer has arrived! | REC Anything
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