Let's set the off-roading scale to correct factors.
To me, so amazing Hummer (the original military, not the latest jokes) is still a toy and here is something I call true off-roader with it's portal axles and ramp angles in stock that no one else have.
Herren and damen, the Mercedes Unimog
Now back to the reality...
The info I have gathered so far shows,
First 4x4 was build by Ferdinand Porsche (yes the founder of Porsche cars AND he was just 25 years old!!), this 4x4 was "truck" with electric drive with electric hubs and was build 1900. That time their truck was size of current NA mid size pickup.
First mechanical 4x4 was build 1902 by Spyker from The Netherlands.
Mercedes Build their first 4x4 on 1903.
1926 Mercedes and BMW made military 4x4's that even today can be said was way ahead of time (Real 4x4 with 3 lockers, 4 wheel steering, independent front and rear suspensions. They happen to be really similar to each other as German Army ordered some car manufacturers to build 4x4 by specific blueprints Army had.
Audi AG revolutionazed mass production AWD by inventing a way to convey power to all wheels and Torsen is not Audi AG invention. Torsen differential was invented 1958 by American Vern Gleasman.
These days Mercedes and BMW passenger cars use hydraulic multidisc clutch pack (alike Haldex) to control the awd and these are about 10/90 split rwd cars on normal conditions.
Audi Quattro (excluding A3, TT with Haldex) and some models from Subaru are the only ones from passenger cars that haves full time mechanical awd.
VW used Quattro mechanical drivesystem as 4Motion on Passats for awhile and then changed it to Haldex.
From Japs the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution haves mechanical awd as far as I know and the rest uses hydraulic .
From SUV category...
Porsche Cayenne used to have mechanical middle differential with H/L lockable transfercase (at that time Cayenne and Touareg awd driveline was pretty similar) but these days I saw article sayin it would be like Touareg 4Motion without transfercase to improve the sportiness. Even the 911 had Visco and now might have Haldex.
If one want's to admire technical master piece way ahead of time then go study Porsche 959.
I mean com' on guys, on 1986-1989 it had more technology in it than modern cars have these days and still here in States GM and Ford doesn't know how to build a supercar with awd.
If I can't put the power down then what's the point, what the heck would I do with Saleen Mustang with what, 500 rwhp when 18-wheeler slaps it around its Fordy cheeks on uphill race... (remember truck is manual 18 speed and he probably jumps 5 gears at the time)
May I introduce, Rodeo Du Camion at Notre Dame Du Nord, Quepec CANADA!!!
yeah
what the heck this haves to do with the topic
back to the track...
MB G is one of the few mechanical awd's with H/L transfercase, live axles and all three 100% lockers as stock. Toyota used to sell Land Cruiser in Australia with all three 100% lockers but I'm not sure what's going on these days (my info is getting outdated as I haven't had time to snoop around reading stuff from German sites).
MB GL is like X5, Q7 and Touareg 4Motion without transfercase and lockers (traction control via ABS system)
MB ML is just smaller from GL and haves no transfer case nor lockers (it used to have H/L on first years?).
One thing I don't get is the hype from Range Rover and Land Rover as those never had front nor rear lockers. Sure the live axles and springs gave enormous axle articulation but once it was cross-hanging (did someone say diagonally challenged?), it would spin the opposite wheels and be stuck. Modern Range and Land sure haves EDL (controled by ABS system)
All this crap is depended on the continent as we all know, the importing programs here in States keep all the goodies out of our hands and most bling bling is available in Europe and down under (both with higher cost though)
The snow driving, here is crappy shaky shot wife took last year when we had tiny blizzard and I went out to play on roads that weren't cleaned yet. Almost got high centered but was able to keep the wheel spin down (Audi's "sportiness" allows too much wheel spin to be good for any type mild off-roading), reversed off and took another shot and with dedicated winter tires I was only one getting out from that block.
Aftermath, clean up the rims...
with hammer....
