The Mercedes Benz G Class

Back in the seventies, the Shah of Iran suggested to Mercedes that it might be a nice if it built an SUV. MB promptly hopped into bed with Austrian military vehicle manufacturer, Steyr-Daimler-Puch, and started creating the "Geländewagen" (German for cross-country vehicle) for civilian and military use.
A development program rumbled through most of the seventies, including excursions to German coalfields, the Sahara desert, and the Arctic Circle. And Steyr-Daimler-Puch began hand-building the G in the same Graz factory they're made in today, ready for its 1979 launch. 


The first major refinements came in 1981 and included an auto box and air conditioning; a year later it got comfier front seats lifted from Benz's car line-up, auxiliary heating and wider tyres. Having generated some column inches with a Paris-Dakar rally win in ‘83, MB kept piling in the kit; by '87 it was fitting the G with electric windows, a power antenna and luggage covers.
In 1989 it got its first full pimp out to celebrate the G's tenth anniversary, in came permanent four-wheel drive, wood trim, ABS, a top-spec interior and three electronically-locking differentials. 

But in 2004, everything changed. The post '90 Gs were definitely luxurious, but they weren't quick, and its esoteric customer base started noticing. Mercedes' solution was simple - hand it over to in-house tuners, AMG. Subsequently, its squeezed in a 5.4-litre supercharged V8, 5.5-litre twin-turbo V8 and now there's the latest offering - a 6.0-litre twin-turbo V12, which produces 612hp and 737lb ft. 
A further colour screen sits in the middle of the dash, incorporating a DVD player and the COMAND system, all standard on G-Class models, including a sat nav with "off-road" functions. 


Mercedes has just revealed details of its revised G-Class - that ageing, iconic off-roader and the sad headline news is that the UK will have to survive without the twin-turbocharged 6.0-litre V12 version, which uses the same 621bhp engine found in the new SL65.
Also available on launch is the G350 BlueTEC - a 3.0-litre V6 diesel with 211bhp and 400lb ft of torque, capable of returning 25.2mpg and 295g/km of CO2, if that sort of thing excites you. Both engines will get the seven-speed 7G-Tronic auto ‘box as standard.

However, the UK will receive the new G63 AMG, a V8 monster featuring the company's new twin-turbo 5.5-litre V8 currently being rolled out across the AMG range. That means 544bhp - 37bhp more than the old G55 - and 560 torques. No word on performance, but a 0-62mph time somewhere in the low fives would be a good guess. Oh, and it comes with start/stop too.

The new G has also been treated to a host of interior upgrades, too. The centre console and instrument panel have been completely designed, and you'll find a new TFT display sandwiched between the two dials. New daytime LED running lights and new exterior mirrors for all models, while the AMGs get a new grille with double louvres, new bumpers, larger air intakes, 20in wheels and red brake calipers.