The arrival of the new Mercedes-Benz G-Class was celebrated in Dubai this week. The luxury off-road vehicle from Mercedes-Benz has long been considered a design icon. The new G-Class is 53 mm longer and 121 mm wider than the previous model, but its external appearance has not changed significantly since 1979.
Using a digital prototype, the developers simulated the service life of individual components and closed systems to find out in which places it would be possible to make use of lighter raw materials ergo the G-Class has shed around 170 kg. The rigid body shell is now made of a variety of steel grades, while the wings, bonnet, and doors are made of aluminum.
However, less mass in no way translates into less stability – on the contrary, it was possible to increase the torsional rigidity of the frame, body shell, and body mounts by around 55 percent, from 6,537 to 10,162 Nm/deg.
For the transfer of power, the 9G TRONIC automatic transmission with torque converter was specifically adapted to meet the needs of the off-road icon. The developers have managed to reduce the shift and response times of the 9-speed transmission by means of a dedicated software application. The wide transmission ratio not only makes driving quieter and more comfortable especially at low engine speeds, it simultaneously also contributes to reducing fuel consumption.
The new Mercedes-AMG G 63 underpins its unique position among performance off-road vehicles with the powerful drive system, the newly developed AMG RIDE CONTROL suspension, the AMG-specific transmission modes and new interior with optimal widescreen cockpit which blends the timeless tube-look analog round dials as standard with two 12.3-inch displays.
The AMG 4.0-litre V8 Biturbo engine replaces the previous 5.5-litre V8 Biturbo engine in the G 63. It generates 430 kW (585 hp) in this model and delivers a maximum torque of 850 Nm. This is available across a wide rev range between 2.500 and 3.500 rpm, providing a sense of effortless superiority. It absolves a sprint from zero to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds.
Unmistakable design features give the new AMG G 63 its unique appearance: the boxy silhouette, the proud bonnet, external door hinges, round headlamps, mounted direction indicators, robust door handles, muscular protective strips with inserts in high-gloss black with a silver AMG emblem, the exposed spare wheel on the rear door with a stainless-steel cover and three-dimensional Mercedes star.
The headlamps, indicators and tail lights are in LED High-Performance technology as standard.
The agile driving impression is substantial due to the AMG RIDE CONTROL suspension. system, which has been completely redesigned by Mercedes-AMG and features coil springs all-round. For the first time, the front axle has an independent, double wishbone suspension; a rigid axle with a five-link suspension is used at the rear. It also includes an adaptive adjustable damping as standard equipment.
The driving characteristics can be individualized at the touch of a finger with five on-road and three off-road driving modes.
DYNAMIC SELECT on-road modes feature “Slippery”, “Comfort”, “Sport”, “Sport+” and “Individual”, the characteristics range from efficient and comfortable to very sporty and “M” button to switch directly to manual mode and three off-road modes – “Sand”, “Trail” and “Rock” – are available when driving off the beaten track. These can then be selected with the DYNAMIC SELECT rocker switch.
The AMG SPEEDSHIFT TCT 9G transmission used has a model-specific software application to achieve very short shift times. The multiple downshift function allows more spontaneous bursts of speed, while the double-declutching function in “Sport” and “Sport Plus” transmission modes make for an even more emotional driving experience. Defined engine manipulation makes for even faster gear changes.
“Manual” mode can be selected using a separate switch. The gear changes are based on the selected transmission mode, and the driver can now change gear using paddles on the steering wheel. Moreover, the transmission stays in the selected gear and does not automatically shift up when the engine speed reaches the limit
