Mercedes-Benz celebrates 40 years of G-Class with special models

By: CAR magazine

Mercedes-Benz has lifted the wraps off its special “Stronger than time” G-Class models, celebrating four decades of the iconic off-roader and 20 years of AMG variants.

“Fourty years ago the combination of on- and off-road properties was a revolutionary concept. The current G-Class continues this tradition. Its top technological performance today forms the basis for its status as an automotive icon,” said Dr Gunnar Güthenke, head of the Stuttgart-based automaker’s off-road vehicle product unit.

The anniversary edition line-up will comprise petrol and diesel engines, with the latter powertrain exclusively available in “Stronger than time” Gs. The G400d derivative will employ the Stuttgart-based automaker’s 3,0-litre inline-six oil-burner (OM 656), which produces 243 kW and 700 N.m of torque from 3 400 to 4 600 r/min.

Mercedes-Benz says the combined fuel consumption of 9,6 L/100 km can be attributed to the mill’s “high-tech features such as stepped-recess combustion process and two-stage exhaust-gas turbocharging”.

Also on offer is the G500 petrol variant. This model is equipped with a 4,0-litre twin-turbo V8, which is good for 310 kW and a peak torque output of 610 N.m (the latter between 2 000 and 4 750 r/min).

According to Mercedes, “painstaking attention to detail” has gone into the design of these celebratory Geländewagens. Both models ship standard with an AMG Line kit (the G500 gets an added sports exhaust system), Stainless Steel package (which include running boards, spare wheel cover and door sills in this material), plus a Night package. Other features include ambient lighting, replete with 64 colours and ten colour schemes, a Burmester surround-sound system and the firm’s widescreen cockpit.

In addition to the 40-year anniversary commemorations of the G-Class, the German automaker is also celebrating two decades of the AMG-badged performance derivatives. Thus, the company has revealed a “Stronger than time” edition for the Mercedes-AMG G63 (read our road test on the G63 Edition 1 here).

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