Branching Out: Mercedes-AMG 6×6
With the G 63 gaining popularity globally regardless of changing trends, AMG began working on an all-conquering version that actually sprouted another axle, two more wheels and diff-locks. Not to mention it had wider portal axles that add 299 millimetres to the track width, with the beefier suspension and 37-inch tyres on 18-inch rims that free up 460 mm of ground clearance. All of those bits mean it can tackle pretty much any sort of terrain Mother Earth has to offer. A few more numbers you might want to know: it is 5.9 metres long, 2.1 m wide and 2.2 m tall. It has a 159-litre tank and a kerb weight of 4.1 tonnes. And, yes, it’s road-legal.
G-Class 4×4²
That wasn’t all, though. There was a more… er, usable version of the 6×6, with one less axle and two less wheels. Still portal axles, and just as wide and almost as high up there, this one is the G 500 4×4². It has a ground clearance of 438 mm, a regular G-Wagen 96-litre fuel tank, and a lighter kerb weight, too: 3,021 kg. The engine isn’t the 5.5-litre V8 either. Rather, the new M176 AMG 4.0-litre BiTurbo V8 with 422 PS and 610 Nm appears, powering a 7G-Tronic+ transmission still driving all four wheels. These wheels are 22-inchers and are wrapped in 325/55 rubber.
Whichever iteration is chosen, the G-Class stands out as a timeless classic, still coveted by many enthusiasts with petrol running through their veins. It remains an example of engineering excellence that surpasses all boundaries of acceptance.
Mercedes-AMG G 65
The world’s most powerful off-road vehicle was born in 2013. With the introduction of the new G 63 and the most advances ever offered in a G-Class, the second biggest change for the 463 was the introduction of the G 65, powered by the M279 6.0-litre V12 BiTurbo engine with all of 612 PS and 1,000 Nm of torque. The transmission saw the five-speed AT replaced with the seven-speed AMG SpeedShift Plus, making short work of acceleration: 0-100 km/h was dismissed in 5.3 seconds — commendable for a car weighing 2.6 tonnes. The G 65 has since been upgraded to 630 PS, with the same flood of 1,000 Nm of peak torque.
Maybach G 650 Landaulet
More recently, and a prelude to a swansong, the G 650 Landaulet represents the meeting of two extremes; a super-luxury marque’s take on an off-road vehicle. It brings back memories of the Maybach Landaulet soft-top from the last decade. Built on the platform of the 4×4² and lengthened by 578 millimetres to accommodate the opulence and luxuries that only a Maybach can deliver, the G 650 is the ultimate literal example of the term ‘freedom of movement’. Huge 22-inch wheels with 325/55 tyres on portal axles offer 450 mm of ground clearance, paired to its AMG M279 BiTurbo V12 with 630 PS and 1,000 Nm as well as the advanced 4×4 driveline, allow it to traverse all sorts of terrain in maximum comfort. The top curtain opens up and folds down to provide a truly involving outdoor experience.
Connected to Stuttgart and Affalterbach, yet produced in Austria, the exclusive Maybach G 650 is limited to just 99 units.
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