Mercedes earlier stopped production of the G-Wagen as well as some other V8-powered vehicles in its lineup, but now we have it back on the dealership in the U.S. This time it is a G-Class Edition 550, created in short numbers for the U.S. markets.
The new G-Class Edition 550 comes with an updated exterior and interior. Created on the non-AMG G550, it employs a twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8, generating 416 horsepower (310 kilowatts) and 450 pound-feet (610 Newton-meters) of torque. The engine pairs with a nine-speed automatic transmission with a two-speed transfer case. Mercedes claims this G-class special edition can hit 60 miles per hour (96 kilometers per hour) in 5.6 seconds.
The automaker offers it in Jupiter Red, Arabian Grey, and Moonlight White – a new colour in the palette. The regular G-Wagen’s body-coloured bumpers and fender flares are switched with black lower trim. The standard wheels are black 20-inch AMG 14-spoke, which are optional in the regular G-Class.
On the inside, we can find two-tone Nappa leather upholstery with diamond stitching, carbon-fiber trim, and optional active multi-contour front seats with active side bolsters. We can also see an emblem on the occupant’s side grab handle signifying G-Wagen 1 of 200. The same badge is also visible on the front fenders with a lovely visual of a G-Wagen ascending a mountain.
All the information we have comes from a post on the Mercedes-Benz USA Facebook page. Unfortunately, we do not have pricing details yet but we believe it will sport a minimum of $150,000 price tag – the same G550 bears with visual upgrades.
Offering a special edition G-Class is fairly unexpected at this time since the company is apparently trying to meet the rising demand for this utility vehicle in a few markets.
The SUV achieved a new worldwide sales record last year as it moved 41,174 vehicles. If we talk about the U.S. alone, the German carmaker delivered 8,523 vehicles in 2021, showing a 10.4 per cent year-over-year rise.
The automaker is presently working to update the G-Class. The spy shots reveal there aren’t many alterations on the new SUV except an updated front fascia with re-styled intakes at the edges, a little flatter hood, and more angular fender flares.
Besides, we also learned that Mercedes is developing two new versions of the G-class including the new 4×4 Squared, which we believe is in its final stages of manufacturing. The new variants feature a taller ride height, likely a light strip over the windshield, a roof rack, and a stair at the rear section.
A zero-emission G-Class would allegedly come in 2024. It is a reflection of the Concept EQG and appears very much like the internal combustion engine model. Instead of an extra wheel carrier at the rear section, it will have a storage section for keeping stuff like charging cables. The Concept EQG possesses a shiftable two-speed gearbox allowing the use of a crawler gear for times you want to go off-road.
Source and Images: Car&Driver and Motor1