MERCEDES-Benz proposes that its iconic G-Class may still be around in 2025 through a design study where the genes of the classic SUV from 1979 is grafted into the Ener-G-Force, a concept police car developed for the Los Angeles Design Challenge.

The Los Angeles Design Challenge 2012 looks for the “Highway Patrol Vehicle 2025,” anticipating that law enforcement will have to deal with even more crowded roads that are electronically monitored and guided, a much larger population, and changes in human behavior.

Mercedes said its Ener-G-Force meets these requirements and would be fully capable of supporting police and emergency services in every corner of the world. “The Ener-G-Force is the vision of an off-roader that, while reflecting tomorrow’s adventures, also invokes the genes of the Mercedes-Benz off-road icon, the G-Class,” said Gorden Wagener, director of design at Mercedes-Benz Cars. “Modern and cool, it could also be a clue about a new beginning for the off-road design idiom of Mercedes-Benz.”

The vehicle’s small glass areas make it a safe cocoon for law enforcement officers. Emergency lights integrated into the roof are impossible to ignore. The striking front leaves no doubt as to the commanding presence of the police. The gigantic wheels guarantee the right-of-way even where no “way” exists, Mercedes asserts.

It adds that the Ener-G-Force is planet-friendly, too. It stores recycled water in tanks on the roof and transfers it to a “hydro-tech converter” that turns renewable resources into hydrogen, hinting that the vehicle would most likely run on fuel cells.

In the Ener-G-Force, the future is now. FAST TIMES