THE FACTS
HANG on tight for a test of a truly ridiculous car. It’s the Mercedes-AMG G63 – but before we climb aboard this snorting and growling beast, a quick refresher course on Merc’s famous G-Class.
It started life in 1979 when it was called the Geländewagen (enthusiasts still call it the G-Wagen).
Originally commissioned by the Shah of Iran in 1972 as a military vehicle, the plan went west (as did the Shah), but Mercedes decided to take this rugged utility vehicle and turn it into a production car for the non-military punter and this supremely competent offroader has been on Mercedes’ sales list ever since.
Although the new G-Class looks very similar to the old model, it is totally different, sharing only about half a dozen key components. In fact, Merc has gone out of its way to make sure that the G-Class looks how it has always done.
Underneath, the car still has a ladder chassis but the old live front axle has gone, to be replaced by an independent axle and double wishbone suspension arms. Also, the old recirculating Mercedes-AMG G63
Price: Engine: 0-62mph: Fuel consumption:
ball steering box has been replaced by a rack so that piloting the G-Class involves less in the way of guesswork.
A rather more sane G350 diesel model is arriving next year but in the meantime we only have this G63 model fitted with the twinturbo V8 engine from Merc’s AMG GT sports car. It produces 577bhp and a shocking 299g/km of CO2.
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