The Mercedes-Benz G class also known as the G-Wagen or Gelandewagen (meaning cross-country car), is a vehicle with four-wheel drive and falls in the class of a luxury SUV. It was conceived due to proposals for a vehicle suited for military purposes in the early part of the 1970s made by Shah Mohammed Raza Pahlavi from Iran, who is a major shareholder in the company. It was developed in collaboration with the Steyr-Daimler-Puch, an Austrian vehicle manufacturer. Manufacture of G class started in the year 1979 with 460 series models. It has undergone many changes since then. It is termed as the largest SUV produced by the company Mercedes-Benz.
Mercedes-Benz got a military contract for the G class in the later part of the 1970s and launched a civilian trim for the public in the year 1979. The G wagen was designed to be the most reliable, durable and rugged off road vehicle. This vehicle uses three completely locking differentials. In order to mark its 25th anniversary, in 2005 the Mercedes-Benz G55 AMG was relaunched as the G55 Kompressor also known as the G55K, receiving a power boost, with a 5.5 lt. V8 which was supercharged and developed 469 hp and 516 lb.ft torque.
The 2007 Mercedes-Benz G class pff-roader has power windows, power steering, air-conditioning and the standard safety features of Mercedes Benz including 8 airbags. It is fully leather inside and has polished wood panelling. The most expensive in the G class is the AMG series which sells very well in the United States. The all new Mercedes Benz has four variants in which there are two deisel fuelled versions. The first a 231 hp V6 and the second a 300 hp V8 engines. Two more trims have brand new V8 gasoline fuelled engines. The first one develops 326 hp with 4.6 lt. and the second 408 hp with 5.5 lt. The AMG variant is said to develop a 460 hp.
It was a common rumor in the market that with the military contract for the G class having been completed, its production in Graz, Austria would be discontinued in the year 2006. But the production of the G class has continued alongside the GL class which was once intended as a replacement. The rumors of the ceasing of production caused an outcry among the enthusiasts admiring the G class for its major off-road capabilities. For instance it is the only SUV in North America with three locking differentials. This convinced Mercedes-Benz to continue the production of the G class for the hardcore enthusiasts of off-road vehicles. While the GL class is now marketed as a competitor for vehicles like the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator.
In July 2006, The company Mercedes-Benz announced the late-availability of the 2006 model year G class on its website. Mercedes-Benz also showed 2007 version of the G class which had received a facelift in the Paris Auto show in the September of 2006 and increased the G55K AMG’s engine power from 476 to 500hp
Engine: 4 out of 5: V8 engine capable of 476 to 500 hp
Transmission: 4 out of 5
Handling: 4out of 5: Is very capable of off road performance but handles well on the road too
Value: 3 out of 5: mainly meant for off road enthusiasts
Tech Specs:
Engine: V8 engine with 476 to 500 hp
Body: rugged body meant for an off roader
Max Torque: 516 pound feet of torque