Mercedes-Benz has once and for all confirmed that a smaller, more affordable G-Class is on the way. The carmaker revealed the news in a lengthy release tied to its latest presentation to investors, in which it detailed the brand’s future — and also committed to a design language overhaul that will do away with the current split in appearance between its ICE and electric vehicles.

AMG has played with smaller engines in the recent past, controversially swapping the V8 out of the C63 for a four-cylinder powerplant. Downsizing is a common trend nowadays in the auto industry, but it was received with varying degrees of love from the brand's faithful as they yearned for that V8 grit.

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class has always been the boundary-pushing model in the automaker’s catalog. Its ultra-rich price tag buys the best tech available, and it appears the car is about to get a significant update that will bring even more “new stuff.

The move would help Mercedes achieve its goal of localizing 70 percent of production in 2027. The company would like the factory to produce 200,000 cars a year for the US, and the

Electric C-Class and GLC are also planned.