Mercedes-Benz has filed a patent application for an unusual technology that could allow a two-axle vehicle to float and travel across water, taking the automaker's off-road ambitions into territory closer to boating than conventional driving. The system is designed to help a vehicle enter a body of water, remain stable while floating, and eventually make its way back onto land.CarBuzz reported that the patent does not specifically identify the G-Class as the vehicle that would receive the technology. However, the electric Mercedes-Benz G 580 with EQ Technology could be a potential candidate because it features four individually controlled electric motors and advanced suspension technology.At the heart of the concept are removable flotation devices that could be positioned inside the vehicle's wheel arches. Mercedes-Benz proposes using either inflatable components or lightweight foam sections to provide additional buoyancy. The system could also adjust the amount of buoyancy at different points around the vehicle.AdvertisementAdvertisementA computer control unit could regulate the flotation system to help compensate for an uneven load or changing conditions caused by currents. This would help keep the vehicle stable instead of relying solely on fixed flotation.Mercedes-Benz has also considered how the vehicle could move once it is floating. The wheels would remain capable of rotating and steering, while the suspension could raise or lower individual wheels. By positioning the steering wheels deeper in the water, they could potentially help direct the vehicle in a manner similar to rudders.The drivetrain could provide another advantage. Individual wheel control would allow the system to vary torque and wheel speeds while the vehicle is in the water. In some situations, the wheels could even rotate in opposite directions to help change the vehicle's direction or counter the effects of a current.The patent also states that the devices could potentially be stored around the spare-wheel area, while inflatable versions could be filled using a tire compressor. This would allow the equipment to be carried without permanently converting the vehicle into an amphibious machine.AdvertisementAdvertisementInterestingly, Mercedes-Benz has also previously patented a separate floating-vehicle concept involving equipment for operating on water. That patent was granted in Germany in December 2025. Despite the unusual technology, there is currently no indication that Mercedes-Benz is preparing to launch a production amphibious SUV.The latest patent application remains pending. Patent filings can protect potential engineering solutions without guaranteeing that the technology will reach production. For now, a floating G-Class remains an intriguing possibility rather than a confirmed future product.