Meet the Arcade Cars Sojourn: a £100k G Wagon restomod built purely for the wilderness

The ‘Sojourn’ seems like a fitting name for a car that’s expected to do a lot of work, and in this instance, it’s been applied to a W460-generation Mercedes-Benz GE 230 Cabriolet restomod by Arcade Cars. It’s one of the more understated restomods on the market today, we think you’ll agree.

That quiet ethos continues beneath the bonnet where you won’t find a modern V8 jackhammer. Instead, lumbering this two-something-tonne beast of burden around is a 2.3-litre inline-four producing a not-at-all pulse-raising 127bhp and 142lb ft. Or you could opt for an alternative 2.8-litre, 149bhp piston motor, which may raise pulses by an extra two or three beats per minute.

But while it won’t be the most exciting vehicle to drive, the Sojourn should be a more than capable companion off the beaten track. A choice of four or rear-wheel drive mated to a four-speed automatic box, fully automated differentials and a fairly adept suspension unit should see to that.

Inside, the rear seats have been placed lengthways to make this less Knightsbridge cruiser and more Serengeti stalker. The upholstery has also been made of wipeable, water-resistant cloth to better deal with any accidents should a pack of lions approach in interest at this half-exposed lunch box.

There are plenty of customisation options available - both internally and externally - to truly tailor the Sojourn to whatever it is you’re wanting in a G Class. Various alloy designs can be paired with bloated off-road tyres, while extra spotlight options can be opted in to give more life to the robust brush guards and grilles. Maybe those lions will need some wipeable, water-resistant cloth instead when they see this.

Prices for the Sojourn will begin at a smidge over £100,000 when it goes on sale later this year, with a few ticks on the extras list likely taking it to within reach of the current G.