HULK OF THE HIGHWAY
The Mercedes-Benz G-Class is a beast. That fact was underlined this week when police posted online shocking video footage which, they claimed, showed an unnamed Premier League footballer doing 125 mph on the M25 in the £150,000 G-Wagon.
I drove one of these real-life Tonka toys recently and I can confirm it is supercharged. It is also the height of comfort. So, while I can’t comment on the alleged speeding case and would never condone dangerous driving, I can tell you it must be handled with respect.
With its slab-like retro design, it looks like a posh military vehicle and there’s a reason for that.
The original G-Wagon (Gelandewagen, or all-terrain vehicle) was conceived — before the Iranian Revolution — by the late Shah of Iran in 1972 as a military 4x4 and used by the German army.
A civilian version has been around for 40 years since 1979 and, visually, has barely changed.
I drove the full- snorting, firebreathing, new Mercedes-AMG G63 model, powered by a 585 hp, four-litre, twin turbocharged V8 linked to a slick AMG Speedshift Plus 9G-Tronic nine-speed automatic gearbox, with the option for manual override via steering wheel paddles.
There are three road- driving modes: Comfort, Sport and Sport-plus.
It accelerates blisteringly from rest to 62mph in 4.5 seconds, with a top speed of 149 mph. For less energetic driving, it can run on only four cylinders to save on thirsty fuel consumption, which averages 21.4mpg with CO2 emissions of 299g/km.
Rev the engine and it sounds like a supercar, despite its chunky look, squared-off panelling, big exterior door hinges and industrial-style dash trim.
each 4x4 is hand-built under licence by Magna Steyr in Graz, Austria. The new model is slightly longer and wider than before, with an improved body, chassis, suspension, steering, engine and gearbox, plus new driver assistance systems. heated seats, blind spot and parking assistance, electronic traction, ambient interior lighting and a powerful sound system add to the package.
But you’ll need deep pockets. The car I tested, in sinister ‘obsidian black’, cost £153,905, of which extras accounted for about £12,000.
Mercedes has also launched a new six- cylinder, three- litre diesel G-Wagon G30d version, costing from about £94,000.