Mercedes keeps raising the bar with the G-Class: just when you think the legendary Geländewagen couldn't get any more hardcore, it mashes the throttle and does exactly that, plowing through a bank of snow, sand, hell or high water in the process. What you see here is the latest.

It's called the G500 4x4². Aside from the various engine specs, the G-Class has been offered in a number of body-styles. Right around the same time that the two-door convertible was discontinued, Benz rolled out the indomitable G63 AMG 6x6 – a half-million-dollar, six-wheeled monster truck powered by Affalterbach's 5.5-liter twin-turbo V8. Evidently enough people liked the idea but didn't see the point in that extra set of wheels, so Mercedes has toned it down – just a little – but kept the high-riding suspension.

The result is the truck we've seen testing a couple of times now in a bright shade of Hulk green, and which is now just about ready for its debut. On the scale of extreme G-Wagens, it slots in between the standard model and the 6x6, keeping the jacked-up suspension and giant wheels, but losing the extra axle. The G500 moniker also indicates that it'll at least be available with the 382-horsepower, naturally aspirated, non-AMG version of the 5.5-liter V8 that we'd know as the G550.

Just how much of a premium Benz will charge for the beefed-up version, we don't know, as further details are set to be released next week ahead of a likely debut in Geneva. But hopefully it'll be closer to the $115k it gets for the standard version than the $500+k the 6x6 goes for.

Only a G-Class can be better than a G-Class. This is the credo followed by the developers of Mercedes-Benz and they present the new-series show car G 500 4x4².

As a model brother of the G 63 AMG 6x6 the new “G” blends all the advantages of the model series with a considerably increased performance. The engine compartment houses a completely new V8 engine with a displacement of four litres, direct injection and biturbocharging. Next toV8 power there is a newly-developed variable chassis , which offers a perfect symbiosis of sporty dynamism and relaxed comfort on the road and off it. The new G 500 4x4² always reaches the highest offroad performance, thanks to the permanent four-wheel drive and the proven portal axles.

f a nearly 6-meter long body and six wheels were too much of a stretch for you, Mercedes is proposing a more sensible version of its G63 AMG 6x6 in the form of the G500 4x4².

It will debut in near production form at the Geneva Motor Show in March, with the Germans stating that, "whether and when the decision on series production of the G 500 4x4² will be made depends on the reaction which the near-series show car receives".

The hardcore G-Class model takes the five-door body of the regular G500 adding the all-wheel-drive system with portal axles from the 6x6 and surprise, surprise, the 4.0-liter bi-turbocharged V8 from the AMG GT and C63 AMG sports models into the mix (it was previously believed that Mercedes would use a 5.5-liter turbo'd V8).

For this application, the direct-injection V8 engine produces 422PS (416hp) and is connected to a seven-speed 7G-tronic automatic gearbox with a separate transfer case and high / low ratio gearing. The SUV is equipped with three mechanical differential locks that can be selected by the driver.

Also new are the dual strut spring and adjustable damper units, with the driver being able to choose between Comfort and Sport modes through a button on the center console. According to Mercedes, "one spring/damper strut works conventionally with set damper characteristics," while "the second spring strut has electronically controlled adjustable damping, which thus varies the entire damping behavior depending on the current driving situation".

Thanks to the use of the special portal axles in which the axle tube is above the center of the wheel hub, the ground clearance on the G500 4x4² rises to an amazing 450mm (17.7 in) compared to the regular model's 210mm (8.3 in), and the driving or fording depth to 1 meter (39.4 inches).

Elsewhere on the chassis, both the front and rear tracks have been increased by 299mm (11.8 in).

Riding on new 22-inch rims wrapped in 325/55 rubber or optionally, special off-road 18-inch beadlock wheels, the G500 4x4² boasts an improved approach angle of 52 degrees and departure angle of 54 degrees.

Visually, and besides the massive wheels and increased ride height, the 4x4² gets extra wide and partially painted flared fenders on all four corners, integral LED light strips above the windscreen, plus the front bumper of the AMG models.

Inside, Mercedes added the designo Exclusive package that dresses the seat bolsters and head restraints, the dashboard, center console and armrests in leather with white contrasting topstitching, while the seat surfaces, door panels and headliner are covered in DINAMICA microfiber.

You can see the G500 4x4² in action in the video provided by our friends over at GT Spirit right after the official gallery.

Mercedes is getting serious with off-roading, presenting the G500 4x4² concept at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show.

Based on the long-wheelbase variant of the existing G Wagen, the concept has 17.7 inches of ground clearance and is powered by the German automaker’s 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine with 422 hp and 450 lb-ft of torque.

Despite being billed as a concept, the model on the show floor in Switzerland is fully functional and looks production ready with its massive 22-inch wheels. The company also said that if it gets the green light, it’ll also be available with 37-inch beadlock wheels and tires.