V12 power for updated Mercedes G-Wagen

It’s facelift time for the Mercedes G-Wagen, but as has been the traditional recipe with the rugged off-roader, the cosmetics tweaks are nothing more than cursory.

However, the big news for the new G, which debuts at the upcoming Beijing motor show, is that the existing G55 AMG’s long-in-the-tooth 373kW supercharged 5.4-litre V8 makes way for a 400kW version of AMG’s new twin-turbo 5.5-litre V8, with the resultant vehicle wearing G63 AMG badges.

That’s not all though, as also set to feature in the line-up is the G65 AMG, which scores the twin-turbo 6.0-litre V12 used by the new SL 65 AMG, making it the first G to gain V12 power.

Pumping out a brawny 464kW and a stump-pulling 1000Nm, the ballistic 2500kg G-Wagen is claimed to be capable of sprinting from 0-100km/h in just 5.2sec, on its way to an electronically governed v-max of 250km/h.

Offsetting the AMG variants’ huge performance are the large brakes introduced in the new-gen ML63 AMG, while the old five-speed G-Tronic transmission is turfed in favour of the seven-speed 7G-Tronic automatic to boost refinement and fuel economy.

And in a nod to the enviro-conscious set, the G63 AMG also gains a stop/start function and brake energy recuperation.

Although the new drivetrains are cutting-edge, the G-Class’s visuals remain largely as before, with the mods being limited to a restyled grille, new headlamps with LED daytime running lights and redesigned mirror housings. There’s also a new range of alloy wheels and mildly revised tail-lamps.

Meanwhile, the AMG models are differentiated from the garden-variety G via a bespoke front bumper with air ducts to boost cooling for the force-fed engines.

Inside, there’s a new instrument cluster borrowed from the latest M-Class, along with a 4.5-inch colour monitor and the latest Command system.

As with its predecessor, the new G will be offered with the choice of a standard 2400mm wheelbase and a stretched 2850mm format.

The fact that the G-Class still exists (even though it’s been around for 33 years) is largely due to continued strong demand in the Middle East, with other markets adding little more than incremental volume.

Australia accounted for 85 G-Class sales last year, and 22 examples have found new homes in the first two months of this year.

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