Feature Article

5 macho facts about the new Mercedes-Benz G-Class AMG

By Vernon B. Sarne —

New Mercedes-Benz G-Class AMG

Mercedes-Benz distributor CATS Motors sent us to Switzerland and France to drive the new GLK-Class as well as the mildly revised G-Class. During the event, we managed to get behind the wheel of a very macho G63 AMG and take it for a spin (some 25km of manly driving, if you're curious). Needless to say, we got to familiarize ourselves with the vehicle.

Here are five facts about the Mercedes-Benz G-Class AMG that we want to share with you:

1. The G-Class was born in 1979, conceived by Mercedes-Benz to be a strictly off-road vehicle. Thirty-three years since its introduction, very little has changed in its exterior styling. It still looks as rugged and utilitarian as ever. It's not a stretch to say that this model is to Mercedes what the Defender is to Land Rover.

For this latest makeover, the G-Class now sports LED daytime running lights and new exterior mirrors. And because we drove the AMG version, that unit (shown in some of these photos) had the new AMG radiator grille with double louvers, as well as new bumpers featuring huge air intakes. Twenty-inch alloy wheels round out the cosmetic revision.

New Mercedes-Benz G-Class AMG

2. The Mercedes-Benz G-Class is available as a G350 BlueTEC or as a G500. The former has a long-wheelbase station-wagon configuration, while the latter is either a long-wheelbase station wagon or a short-wheelbase convertible. The big news for this latest model refresh is the introduction of two AMG editions. The G63 AMG edition, which we drove, features a 5.5-liter V8 biturbo engine rated at 544hp and 760Nm of torque. If you still find this underwhelming, there's the G65 AMG, equipped with a 6.0-liter V12 biturbo engine that produces a boulder-crushing 612hp and 1,000Nm of torque. These figures are simply, um, criminal.

New Mercedes-Benz G-Class AMG

3. The AMG models have wheel-arch flares, stainless-steel running boards, side protective strips, "V8 Biturbo" (or "V12 Biturbo") logo on the front fender, and G63 or G65 AMG-type plate on the rear door. Inside, the G-Class AMGs have an AMG instrument cluster with color TFT screen, and white-lit AMG sills on all four doors. Let's just say your passengers won't mistake your ride for a pedestrian SUV.

New Mercedes-Benz G-Class AMG

4. The new G-Class AMGs boast 20-inch titanium-gray-painted wheels with high-sheen finish, shod in 275/50 tires. Behind the wheels are ventilated and perforated brake discs with dimensions of 375mm-by-36mm at the front and 330mm-by-20mm at the rear. That much muscle deserves this much stopping power.

New Mercedes-Benz G-Class AMG

5. Our test unit, a G63 AMG, has a quoted fuel mileage of 7.25km/L (combined city and highway), while the G65 AMG purportedly yields 5.88km/L (combined city and highway). The former reportedly sprints from 0 to 100kph in 5.4 seconds and has a top speed of 210kph, while the latter hits 100kph from rest in 5.3 seconds and owns a top speed of 230kph.

New Mercedes-Benz G-Class AMG

Driving a Mercedes-Benz G-Class AMG was a blast for us, especially since this vehicle is among our most admired in terms of no-nonsense styling and sheer road presence. We hope CATS Motors will soon bring in sample units so we can test this macho SUV on our pockmarked roads.

(For our story on the new Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class--which we drove on the same trip--get a copy of our July 2012 issue.)

Photos by Vernon B. Sarne using the Sony Alpha 77

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  • 16bab16 10 months ago
     
    wow, wish i have this car, sasakyang may apelyido.
       
  • LACOSTER 10 months ago
     
    what's the point of a car like this :/. why get an expensive car that can't do as well off-road as a proper suv or as well on road as a sports car. It might be "manly" but its pointless. Plus that front bumper looks like it came off a riced-up civic.
        8
  • barry 10 months ago
     
    hmmm...JAY Z's favourite car. but since it's a gasoline-powered, the SUV is a gas-guzzler! sorry guys...
        2
  • japster_13 10 months ago
     
    not all cars are bought because it makes "sense"... and they don't have to make sense.. cars are as much as accessories as they are modes of transportation.. you buy them because they make you happy... if you are a car guy, you will understand this...
       
    • LACOSTER 10 months ago
       
      i know but this doesnt at all seem like that car that a car guy would even think about buying. if you were a car guy, you'd think about getting the best of the best, or a car that historically means something to you. It just seems like this car was made so that its customers can say "hey i'm better than you" to others with regular g-classes or suvs or whatever.
          3
      • gvm0116 10 months ago
         
        "if you were a car guy, you'd think about getting the best of the best" - I suppose you are only speaking for yourself and not for the rest of the car-loving individuals. I understand you are trying to be logical with your reasoning. But choosing which car to buy is subjective. Some use reason in choosing and some... emotions. Choosing the G-class AMG has to be a case of choosing it because you love it, or to a lesser extent, you just want it. It is the same as why bothing buying a S65 when you can have roughly 90% of a car if you buy a S63 and still get better savings at the pump. Or better yet, why buy a Hummer H3 (I know the Hummer's gone, but for argument's sake..) if you can have a better SUV in the form of the Toyota Landcruiser. Or a Camaro versus a Genesis Coupe which, when tested against each other was way, way better in every conceivable way than the former. I am a car guy and if I have the money, I surely would buy this car in a heartbeat.
           
        • LACOSTER 10 months ago
           
          Of course when you are only "well-off" or middle class such as I am, of course I would choose the best of the best, just because I couldn't afford say, a camaro or anything like that and be able to enjoy it. But what I'm trying to say is that this car is mainly a status symbol. I highly doubt that a sports car fanatic would say he'd enjoy the engine performance and have more fun driving this than say a Porsche Boxster. And that an off-road enthusiast would say he'd prefer mudbogging with the 20-inch AMG wheels instead of the treaded tires of a Land Cruiser or Defender. This car was made so that the customer could look powerful. Not because of performance (well sort of) and not because of practicality. I mean look at this article, it's got "manly" and "macho" written all over it.
              3
          • robin_micmac 10 months ago
             
            I would say that even if this G-class is fitted with 20 inch wheels, this car has better offroad capabilities than a Defender. The Defender may have chunky offroad tyres and better ground clearance but the G-class have a more high tech traction technologies as standard. Its got front and rear difflocks and even the top of the line range rover doesnt have it. In Offroad conditions, this car will be closer to the Range Rover rather than the Defender
               
            • Kyoichi Sudo 10 months ago
               
              Just don't mind Mr. Laoster(Oops, Its Lacoster ahihihihi.....), He just likes bashing this great SUV.
                 
              • Vernon B. Sarne
                Vernon B. Sarne 10 months ago
                 
                Guys, let's not call people names. We're having a good car conversation here. Let's not spoil it by bashing each other below the belt.
                   
              • Kyoichi Sudo 10 months ago
                 
                I apologize for my last reply but let me explain my side further why i'm not feeling good about mr. lacoster's comment. He's clearly saying that the G63 AMG is a SUV w/ no sense, non-sense to be specific. I mean, how can this awesome SUV be non-sense? What?, having such 20" rims already means it can't go off-road already? That maked me feel a little "kainisan" 'coz by just seeing this SUV having 20" rims that it already means that this SUV doesn't already have the capability of off-roading. I mean, he doesn't get Merc's value or vision to the G-class, to have an off-roader and at the same time a sports vehicle on the streets. And he even doesn't have any senseful evidence that proves that this Merc is really non-sense. And again, I apologize Sir Vernon for my disrespectful reply. Peace!
                   
              • LACOSTER 10 months ago
                 
                Yup! you understand me completely Mr. Kyoichi Sudo. I believe this SUV and others such as the BMW X5 M are complete nonsense. Even more nonsense here in the Philippines actually. This is the kind of car where you'd have to think "Hmm, I need a car to transport my kids around, and do the groceries, but I also want to go fast and look impressive". But it doesn't really matter anyways because if you are able to buy one of these things, you probably have a driver, and I'm sure you wouldn't trust him going full throttle down edsa or some main street. Don't get me wrong, this SUV is technically brilliant, I just don't see the point of going out of your way to actually spend money on one instead of a proper sports car or ordinary G-Class. It's like what Clarkson said in one review on the CL AMG review. "So if the top speed is governed by gentleman's agreement and the acceleration from nought to 60 by the laws of physics, what's the point of this car? Cheaper, smaller engined versions are just as quick.".

                yup im done.
                   
              • warak1422 10 months ago
                 
                hahahaha
                   
          • markdejesus76 10 months ago
             
            To summarize, and base on experience with observation, consumers buy cars depending on their personality. Personal preference but what makes sense is what makes the buyer think he made the right choice. Surely, this G-class doesn't disappoint :)
               
  • Kyoichi Sudo 10 months ago
     
    I wonder what happened to the previous Diesel Version, but this is still my all-time favorite SUV.
       
    • warak1422 10 months ago
       
      wOw...yaman mo talaga Sir,,,maghintay ka lang ng ilang sandali,,,mgkaka driver's license ka na rin Sir,,,hehhe...gusto ko rin 2 tulad ng defender 90SW,,,pru kontento na aq sa Suzuki Jimny ko,,,a very capable offroader on a 760T price tag hehe... btw,,,yang c Mr. L KJ yan ahihihihi
         
    • japster_13 10 months ago
       
      the mentioned G350 BlueTEC is the diesel. BlueTEC is a technology developed by MB for diesel engines to meet emission standards
         
  • isaac3654 10 months ago
     
    It amazes me how this G-Class manages to achieve its cult status and maintain it! Kinda like the Ranger Rover. If you change a lot of things from the car, it may lose its identity like the 911 or the Golf or the Beetle.
       
  • agutz1010 10 months ago
     
    Macho nga yang sasakyan na yan kase si Brad Pitt mimso merong ganito.
       
  • maranello_5775 10 months ago
     
    I think this is available on a pre-order basis, saw a brandnew unit lastyear(prefacelift) in dasmarinas village
       
    • japster_13 10 months ago
       
      saw a Brand new one too outside of MIAS last April..
         
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