German Car Zone

Had product strategists at Mercedes gotten their way, the G-Wagen wouldn't be with us today. Called “Wolf” by the German military, which ordered 17,000 units back in 1989, this German equivalent of the Hummer H1 did not quite fit into Mercedes' increasingly upscale and urban lineup. Attempts to make it fit in, such as renaming the G-Wagen (short for Gelaendewagen, which means off-roader) the G-class were studiously ignored by its devotees.

Mercedes’ plan to kill the G-Wagen with the introduction of the plush, three-row, kid-friendly GL-class failed. When Stuttgart saw that the highly affluent customer base of the G-Wagen had no interest in the new M-class derivative, the quirky but iconic off-roader got another lease on life.

The G-Wagen continues to prove there still is life in this box as it is upgraded for the umpteenth time. Acknowledging that a perfect shape can't be improved upon, Mercedes left the exterior largely untouched. The taillights already made the switch to a somewhat tacky LED-style look last year. The only visible new change is a new front grille. The square, multi-blade rectangle of a grille gives way to a three-blade look with a more rounded bottom end that bears a striking similarity with the grille of the Mercedes Unimog— an off-road and military truck of unsurpassed ruggedness.

Work on the G-Wagen began in 1972, and it came to market in 1979, built by what was then known as Steyr-Daimler-Puch. The development partner in Graz, Austria, has since become Magna Steyr and continues to build the wagon. It has always been an expensive vehicle, but it took many years to teach the off-roader some manners. The biggest leap was made in 1990, when a far more luxurious version debuted which is still the basis for today's G-Wagen.

The facelifted G gets upgraded telematics and infotainment gadgets, but the main improvement is a new base V-8 engine.

While the non-U.S. V-6 diesel engine in the G320 CDI, rated at 221 hp, remains unchanged, the 292-hp G500 makes way for a far more powerful G550, 382 hp strong and powered by the well-known 5.5-liter V-8. A sprint to 62 mph is accomplished in 5.9 seconds and the vehicle tops out at 131 mph. Both figures are impressive, considering the G's massive weight and aerodynamics resembling a concrete wall.

There will be another G55 AMG, with output rising from 493 hp to a nice, even 500 hp. Details will be released soon.

Europeans get a choice of three bodystyles of the G320 CDI and the G550: a short-wheelbase and a long-wheelbase and a somewhat curious convertible. U.S. customers only get the long-wheelbase station SUV with pricing expected to remain similar to the current prices of $82,851 for the G500 and $104,892 for the G55 AMG. Orders are being taken now, with deliveries to start in the fall.

2009 Mercedes-Benz G550 / G55 AMG / G-Wagen / G-Class - Car News/SUVs/Family Haulers/Car Shopping/Hot Lists/Reviews/Car and Driver - Car And Driver



Looking at the headlights and the way the car seems to be smiling in a devilish way gives me the creeps. Look at it. It looks like it is looking up at something or giving the grin of an ax murderer right before he chops your head off. I've never seen anything like this, not even on old frowning Peugeots. Really, really creepy. I guess now isn't the time, but MBUSA could really throw the market a curve ball with a G550 Convertible. That would be something. Exclusive on top of being exclusive.

M

Great .....but I think I like the old grille more than the new one.

I understand the new grille is intended to update the G class to make it look more modern ...but strangely, I think it does exactly the opposite.

At the beginning I did not liked this new grille. Now, I like it, but still like the old one. I'm beginning to prefer the new one, but wouldn't be jealous at all if I had the old.

Honestly, grey never was my favourite colour for the G. The G is not at his advantage in grey. it needs a darker grey, or of course black.

So, before making a judgment, I want to see this new grille on a black G. In the doc they say the grille is body-coloured, so it won't change that much in dark colours. And like in the old case, the AMG gets chrome on the grille. So for me, the standard G in black won't change that much, but I'm curious to see how much chrome they added on the grille of the AMG and how it'll look like.

So it's only a real change in a light-coloured G, and in AMG-guise. Curious to see it in the other colours!

I really like the black Brabus -- without the star.

2009 g55 pics
A Second Look At The 2009 Mercedes-Benz G 55 AMG | eMercedesBenz - The Unofficial Mercedes-Benz Weblog

Any more interior pictures?

If so inclined, would it be difficult to give it an interior resembling the ML?

The interior won't change much. Too much money to change the interior. There will be some minor upgrades, but overall design will be the same.

Most probably Comand, steering wheel, gauges have changed but that's about all.

I like the interior like it is. Comand-car mixed with luxury vehicle...

It can't have the ML's interior: not the same width (G is narrower), and the dash of the G has to be much shorter because the windshield is almost straight, not inclined like in the ML. And no need to change the interior, it's much too costly like Phybenz said, and nobody complains about it.

The only difference to the new one is the new command system, the ventilated seats, and Desgino seats for the G 55. That will be all changes…

would have been nice if they upgraded the climate control to the digital one...