Mansory GRONOS Coupe EVO C
Dozens of companies – perhaps more – specialize in aftermarket enhancements and buildouts for the Mercedes-Benz G Class, but Mansory’s range of offerings is arguably unrivaled in both scope and quality. Since the 1980s, Mansory has been creating distinctive G Wagon conversions, which have been met with both adoration by fans of wild, flashy body work, as well as disdain from those who prefer more conservative aesthetics on their G Classes. From pickups to colossal six-wheeled off-road vehicles, Mansory has applied its touch to nearly every iteration of the G Wagon.
The company has remained steadfast in its core principles, which are centered on impeccable craftsmanship and the use of unparalleled materials to create the wildest-looking aftermarket rides any amount of money can buy. Regardless of the vehicle, all of Mansory’s conversions boast exquisitely reupholstered cabins adorned with bespoke accents and trim, as well as fully revamped body panels and performance enhancements capable of producing more than 800 horsepower – or more.
Mansory prides themselves in very limited-production runs of each different iteration of the G Class, and one of their newest creations, dubbed the GRONOS Coupe EVO C (we know, it’s a mouthful), is absolutely wild and a unique offering, even among their other designs. It offers quite the unique combination of features that make this an instant collectible – here’s a look at the new GRONOS and some of its most interesting details.
Two Doors
The first thing you will notice immediately about the GRONOS are the doors – or rather, the lack of doors. The most interesting thing about the GRONOS is that it is not based on the Euro-spec two-door G Class. Rather, Mansory actually chops up a four-door G Wagon and converts it to two doors. Compared to a two-door G Wagon from the Mercedes factory, the body proportions are significantly altered: the doors are elongated to match the larger door openings created by a relocated B pillar.
As a part of this dramatic re-engineering of the platform, Mansory has also incorporated a rarely-seen feature into the GRONOS: two “suicide doors.” First seen on some of the classic luxury cars of the ‘20s and ‘30s (and perhaps most notably on some current Rolls-Royces), these are doors with the hinges in the back and the handles in the front. In other words, they open in the opposite direction from conventional car doors. The sheer presence of this can’t be understated; it is the ultimate flex when pulling up to the casino or the ski lodge, or anywhere else for that matter.
The Exterior
The next thing anyone will notice is the unique paint job. It’s flashy and eye-catching in typical Mansory fashion, and sports an interesting mix of three colors. It’s a mix of green, gold, and black paint that is almost reminiscent of a camouflage paint job on the GRONOS’ military cousins from some angles. It’s sure to be polarizing – some will love it, some will most definitely not love it. But, it’s classic Mansory ostentatious styling. Even the large, bespoke 24” wheels are painted in this style, which Mansory calls their “Fluidium” paint with “chrome atmosphere.”
Other than that, there are all of the Mansory styling elements that you can see throughout the rest of their G Wagons, including a large front bumper with larger air intakes (with custom LEDs installed), the classic Brabus twin-scoop carbon fiber hood, and Brabus “B” grille ornament. There’s also a bespoke carbon fiber light bar with amber LEDs mounted atop the A pillar.
Moving around to the back, you’ll find a custom side-exit exhaust with carbon fiber tips and a large spoiler mounted to the roof in the rear. Notably, the GRONOS does not sport a spare tire, and instead, Mansory badging sits on the center of the trunk where the spare tire is usually mounted. Other than these major design details, there are all of the Mansory custom parts sprinkled all over the outside that you’d expect, and there is a lot of carbon fiber.
The Cabin
The cabin sports not only the high-quality design and luxurious materials you expect from Mansory to create a beautiful interior, but it also incorporates quite a bit of engineering that isn’t readily apparent. The seats actually had to be extended due to the two-door conversion, so access to the rear bench seats and legroom front and back are preserved. If you weren’t told this, you’d never know. Mansory has done an excellent job of blending their own custom-fabricated parts in with the factory design elements and styling cues, and this is really what the Mansory experience is about and why these cars are so costly.
In the press photos, the GRONOS shown is wrapped in beautiful white leather upholstery, with custom, gold-anodized accents trimming out the cabin. Of course, black carbon fiber can be seen throughout the dash and center console areas, and it’s every bit as gorgeous as one would expect from a Mansory.
Beyond this, it’s a little pointless to get too in the weeds with all of the bells and whistles that adorn the GRONOS. Like all other Mansory vehicles, every single aspect of the interior can be customized to the owner’s liking. This includes the color and type of leather and stitching, carbon fiber trim, anodization colors for metal parts, and a whole lot more. Suffice it to say, the GRONOS lives up to Mansory’s hype, especially when it comes to the quality of the interior.
Under The Hood
The GRONOS Coupe EVO C is also the beneficiary of the most powerful set of performance upgrades that Mansory offers. Based on the improvements developed for the earlier GRONOS Evo S, this mill in this G Class puts out 900 horsepower, and almost the same amount of torque. This is all good for catapulting the Evo C to 62 mph in 3.3 seconds. Take a moment and consider the fact that this G Wagon, with all of its humble and military-inspired origins, sports power figures that are closer to a Bugatti Veyron than any other factory G Class.
Overall
The Mansory GRONOS Coupe EVO C is yet another wild and unique creation from one of the most highly-regarded aftermarket shops in existence. It’s also extremely exclusive, with only eight of these variants being produced. The GRONOS Coupe EVO C serves as a crowning achievement for Mansory, successfully marrying their immediately-recognizable cosmetic modifications, world-class craftsmanship in their interiors, and face-melting performance figures. The result is quintessential Mansory – some will love it and some will hate it, but nobody can deny that the GRONOS Coupe EVO C represents a masterclass in all facets of coachbuilding with few equals to be found anywhere on earth.
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