Welcome to Club Lexus, the world's largest and most active online community of Lexus owners and enthusiasts.
You are currently viewing our forums as a guest, which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join the Club Lexus community today (click here to register)!
Hot on the bumpers of the New York Auto Show, the oddball Mercedes-Benz G-Class officially shows its ever-so-slightly redesigned face to the world. As we've discussed previously, it looks a whole lot like last year's model, but distinguishing tweaks outside include the dashes of LEDs underneath the headlights and new side mirrors.
The momentous advances have come inside and under the hood. The 612-horsepower, 738-pound-foot twin-turbo V12 G65 AMG is now a reality along with a 544-hp, twin-turbo V8 G63, both of them sitting above a naturally aspirated 5.5-liter V8 in the carryover G550 (the G500 in Europe) and a diesel V6 in the Bluetec G350. Don't get your hopes up for that G65, though – Mercedes-Benz has confirmed to Autoblog that the V12 monster will not be coming to the United States.
Inside, the dash and console get a thorough resculpture, with bezeled dials in the cluster and discrete control pods replacing the flat planes in the previous model. Additional comfort and luxury options can be checked if one wishes for radar-based cruise control, Blind Spot Assist and Parktronic. The ESP programming has even been reworked to play nicely with trailers.
The 2013 G-Class will be available at European dealerships in June with U.S. sales to follow in August. Prices for our market haven't been released just yet, but we do know that the European version will start at €85,311 for the G350, which we also won't get (along with the cabriolet models). The current G550 starts at $107,000, so you should plan on adding a few grand to that to get in the 2013-model-year's big, square door.
Quote:
The new generation G-Class: Forever young
Stuttgart, Apr 11, 2012 -- Mercedes-Benz has once again significantly upgraded the G‑Class, so reemphasising its position as the leader among off-road vehicles. The interior is characterised by high-quality appointments finished with exquisite materials. The instrument cluster and centre console have been completely redesigned. The driver's field of vision now encompasses a colour screen, between two new round dials. The car features as standard the sophisticated COMAND Online infotainment system, including a navigation system and internet access. New LED daytime driving lamps and new exterior mirrors bring a few discreet changes to the exterior appearance of the luxury off-roader. The range of safety features can be optionally enhanced with the addition of Blind Spot Assist, the parking aid PARKTRONIC and the adaptive cruise control system DISTRONIC PLUS. New to the range are the G 63 AMG with an eight-cylinder biturbo engine and the ECO start/stop system as standard, and the G 65 AMG with twelve-cylinder biturbo engine.
Since it was originally conceived in 1979, as a vehicle to be used primarily in tough off-road terrain, the G-Class has undergone an astounding process of evolution. Over the course of 33 years Mercedes-Benz has refined what was initially a very practically-oriented off-road specialist by giving it a high-class interior and road-going qualities on a par with those of the premium saloons emanating from Stuttgart. The G-Class today is considered the top model among luxury-class cross-country vehicles, and has provided the gene pool for the other very successful SUVs built under the Mercedes-Benz brand. The G-Class has been voted off-roader of the year countless times over the past years – as also once again this year.
A comprehensive range of measures ensures that this classic cross-country vehicle remains in a class of its own in the off-road sector.
These measures include new engines, a significantly extended range of appointments, a new, even more luxurious interior and a few discreet external modifications that nevertheless manage to preserve the timeless, classic design – virtually unchanged since 1979 - that has made the G-Class a true automotive style icon.
Dr Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars: "Our G-Class has been a force to be reckoned with for the last 33 years. In its latest evolutionary stage, it offers state-of-the-art, powerful engines, a further improved range of luxurious appointments and the very latest safety features, as well, of course, as its now legendary off-road capabilities. At the same time the design remains true to its down-to-earth, unmistakable style."
Discreet exterior modifications, a complete new look inside
The external modifications include LED daytime running lamps and new exterior mirrors for all engine variants. The AMG versions also feature a new, characteristic AMG radiator grille with double louvres, plus distinctive new bumpers with large air intakes. Red brake callipers and 20-inch wheels, available here for the first time, complement the emotive appeal of its exterior.
The instrument panel and centre console have been completely redesigned to include new controls and generously proportioned, exclusively designed trim elements. These give the interior of the car a fresh and classy look. Drivers will now find a TFT colour display in the instrument cluster between the two round dials. A further large colour screen, conveniently positioned in the centre, is part of the COMAND Online system and incorporates a DVD changer and the COMAND Controller, which are standard on all G-Class models. This new infotainment generation offers, amongst other features, a navigation system with special additional off-road functions, the LINGUATRONIC voice-operated control system and Bluetooth wireless connectivity. In order to ensure that the G-Class nevertheless does not lose any of its character, certain specific design elements in the interior have been preserved. The G-Class thus retains the grab handle on the front-passenger side, the switches for the three differential locks – clearly aligned within the driver's field of vision and highlighted in silver-coloured trim – and the redesigned shift lever in the lower section of the centre console.
New optional extras include safety features such as DISTRONIC PLUS, Blind Spot Assist and the parking aid PARKTRONIC with reversing camera. The ESP®system has been completely revised and now includes Trailer Stability Assist and a HOLD function.
Further individualisation options from the exclusive designo range are available as enhancements to what is already a very high-quality interior package.
Sophisticated engines with high power reserves
The range of engines in the G-Class includes the G 350 BlueTEC and the G 500, both as a long-wheelbase station wagon, plus the G 500 as a short-wheelbase Cabriolet model.The basic version of the long-wheelbase station wagon model is the G 350 BlueTEC with V6 diesel engine and a displacement of 2987 cc. The four-valve engine has an output of 155 kW (211 hp) at 3400 rpm and has available torque of 540 Newton metres across an engine speed range of 1600 to 2400 rpm. The BlueTEC technology developed by Mercedes-Benz minimises its emissions, in particular of nitrogen oxides (NOx). The G 350 BlueTEC works to even better effect with the addition of AdBlue®, an aqueous urea solution that is injected into the flow of exhaust gases. Refilling with AdBlue®is conveniently done from the outside of the vehicle.
One alternative to the diesel engine is the G 500, with its powerful 5.5-litre V8 petrol engine. This has an output of 285 kW (388 hp) and offers excellent torque of 530 Newton metres. The same engine also ensures that the G 500 Cabriolet has generous reserves of power to deal with any situation.
Both the G 350 and the G 500 feature the 7G-TRONIC PLUS automatic transmission as standard. This sixth generation of the stepped automatic transmission that has been developed and produced by Mercedes-Benz since 1960 has once again been thoroughly revised, and optimised with regard to both consumption and comfort.
New to the range is the G 63 AMG with V8 biturbo engine (400 kW/544 hp and 760 Nm of torque), which features the ECO start/stop system as standard. The engine range has been extended by the addition of the G 65 AMG with V12 biturbo engine (450 kW/612 hp and 1000 Nm of torque), making this the most powerful series-produced cross-country vehicle in the world.
The G-Class engines at a glance
Model / Engine / Displacement cc / hp at rpm / Nm at rpm / l/100 km / CO2 g/km
G 350 BlueTEC / V6 diesel / 2987 / 211 at 3400 / 540 at 1600-2400 / 11.2 / 295
G 500 / V8 / 5461 / 388 at 6000 / 530 at 2800-4800 / 14.9 / 348
G 500 Cabriolet V8 / 5461 / 388 at 6000 / 530 at 2800-4800 / 14.9 / 348
G 63 AMG / V8 biturbo / 5461 / 544 at 5500 / 760 at 2000-5000 / 13.8 / 322
G 65 AMG / V12 biturbo / 5980 / 612 at 4300-5600 / 1000 at 2300-4300 / 17.0 / 397
Superior off-roader
The technical qualities of the G-Class continue to be highly prized. The tremendous torque of its engines makes the luxury off-roader an excellent vehicle for towing, while its three electrically controlled 100-percent differential locks, ladder frame and rigid axle characteristics make it an unrivalled proposition in rough, off-road terrain.
The new G-Class is available from June 2012.
Prices in Germany (incl. 19% VAT):
G 350 BlueTEC 85,311.10 euros
G 500 99,948.10 euros
G 500 Cabriolet 100,900.10 euros
G 63 AMG 137,504.50 euros
G 65 AMG 264,180.00 euros
This G65 will be the quickest off the line acceleration AMG ever, this is the first time the 65 Biturbo V12 is available with 4WD from the factory. Previously the highest power 4WD AMG available was the NA R63, ML63 and the new twin turbo ML63.
All previous 65 AMG up to this point are RWD, they are all severely traction limited, very slow off the line with street tires.
Chip the G65, WHOA That is if the tranny, transfer case or rear diff don't explode
__________________
TLN # CDXLVIII, Supreme Chief Justice "99 percent of people would soil themselves on it in 1st gear. That’s why most people drive cars." -- HFL Lexus (you know...), Ducati Multistrada 1200
612 HP in a Wrangler-esque box on wheels? Really? I know MB doesn't build to meet "needs" but who is really going to use such a thing? On one hand it's designed for off road capability and yet is given the power of a race car.
I guess they're getting it out of their system before our oppressive government says no more! (With new CAFE standards).
Mercedes introduces 2013 G-Class, including 612-HP G65 AMG
|#TEAMVOSSEN|
That is if the tranny, transfer case or rear diff don't explode 
IS F- Obsidian 
Linear Mode
