Carscoops: Mercedes G-Class

Showing posts with label Mercedes G-Class. Show all posts

Brabus 800 Widestar is an 800HP Mercedes-Benz G-Class

Following in the footsteps of the 700HP Brabus G V12 S, Mercedes-Benz tuning specialist Brabus has unleashed the 800 Widestar, an extreme version of the G-Class off-roader.

The 800 Widestar is equipped with an V12 engine sourced from the Mercedes-Benz S600, but with extensive upgrades such as the increase in displacement from 5.4 to 6.3-liters, the addition of a new intake system, new engine mapping and the complex Brabus bi-turbo system featuring four water-to-air intercoolers. Additionally, the V12 is fitted with a custom stainless-steel exhaust-system.

Over the years, Mercedes-Benz has released many TV ads featuring two-time Formula 1 World Champion Mika Häkkinen and other renowned pilots, most ending with a funny twist. The Stuttgart-based automaker's latest commercial to hit the web, called “Sunday Driver”, follows a similar recipe. This time, Mercedes chose a hilarious way to promote its 4MATIC permanent all-wheel drive system. To shake things up, Michael Schumacher also makes an appearance, alongside a good-looking female driver.

We’ve also included the “Third man” commercial from a few years back, in which the “New Flying Finn” trumps the younger Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton. You can watch both videos after the jump.

Remember the Saudi Arabian SUV concept called the 'Gazal 1' from this year's edition of the Geneva Motor Show in March? Well, it's officially going into production. The announcement was made by Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah himself during a special ceremony earlier this week.

The original Gazal 1 concept study was created by the students of Saud University in Riyadh with some help from Magna Steyr and Studiotorino. Despite the deign similarities with Toyota's FJ Cruiser, the Gazal 1 is actually based on the underpinnings of the Mercedes-Benz G-Class and is powered by a V8 engine.

After a ten year absence from the UK, the Mercedes-Benz G-Class will return to the German firm's biggest right hand drive market this Autumn. The oldest model in Merc's lineup that recently celebrated 30th birthday will be offered with a choice of diesel or supercharged petrol engines.

In particular, UK drivers be able to choose between the diesel-powered G 350 CDI which produces 221HP and returns 25.7 mpg UK, and the range topping G 55 AMG KOMPRESSOR, which produces 500HP and reaches 0-62 mph (100km/h) in just 5.5 seconds.

There's something about the AMG version of Mercedes-Benz's timeless G-Class that makes tuners go haywire. This time, it's Mercedes-Benz tuning specialist, Vath, that has presented a fully tricked-out G55 AMG.

In stock form, the über G-Class is powered by a 5.5-liter supercharged V8 churning out a completely respectable 500HP and 700Nm (516 lb-ft) of torque. After Vath gets its way with the V8 engine, output is lifted to 680HP and 800Nm (590 lb-ft) allowing the G55 AMG to reach a top speed of 265km/h or 165mph.

This right here is the Gazal-1. It's based on the Mercedes-Benz G-Class and was built by engineering students at King Saud University. Here's where I'd usually bore you with the project's mission as read in a press release, but let's keep this one simple.

The Gazal is named after gazelles (I see it!), apparently a creature commonly found living in Saudi Arabia. It kind of looks like a G-Class at an FJ Cruiser. Can't you just see this thing bounding over dunes and through malls?

This year's Dubai Motor Show appears to be all about special edition models aimed at wealthy Middle Eastern buyers. Together with the SLS AMG Desert Gold that we told you about in an earlier post, Mercedes-Benz also staged the premiere of the G55 AMG KOMPRESSOR "Edition 79", which like the trio of Bugatti Veyron specials, is exclusively destined for the Middle East.

Named in reference to the sales start of the G series in 1979, the G55 AMG KOMPRESSOR "Edition 79" will be built in a limited run of only 70 units.

Special features include the "designo magno alanite grey" matt paint finish which has been borrowed from the SLS AMG and is not normally available on the G-Class, crash bar at the front, carbon-look side trim strips, 19-inch AMG rims in a titanium finish and chromed protective grilles for the front indicators, tail lights and the underguard.

Inside, the limited run G55 AMG sports two-tone designo leather seats, carbon-fibre trim and the Edition logo "1 out of 79" positioned in front of the selector lever.

A.R.T. Prepares One-Off Mercedes-Benz G55 AMG for Abu Dhabi Prince

Here's some more proof that wealth does not equal taste. This one-off Mercedes-Benz G55 AMG was developed by the German tuning firm A.R.T. specially for His Highness Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Sultan Bin Rashed Al Nahyan. Dubbed the AS55K Yaas Edition, the G55 AMG's stock 5.5-liter V8 has been optimized to deliver an output of 620 HP, up from 507 HP.

A high-performance brake system with 8-piston calipers up front and 4-piston brake calipers at the back complete the mechanical upgrades. From there on, it's all about styling - or so to say.

The AS55K Yaas Edition sports a full bodykit with many components coated in carbon-fiber along with polished stainless steel bars under the side skirts and the rear bumper and to top it all, a trio of chrome-plated tailpipes positioned right under the rear doors.

Furthermore, the widened fenders house 22-inch polished alloys wrapped in high-performance tyres while the Prince also opted to equip the G55 AMG with no less than 12 projector lamps including four xenon upper-beam headlights and eight fog lamps.

Open the Merc's door and you'll be greeted by cinnamon-colored leather and Alcantara that cover most surfaces matched (?) with carbon fiber decorative trim in a weird bronze hue.

A.R.T. did not say what the price tag was for this one-off creation but we reckon that only a Prince (or a King) could afford it.

Minor Updates for 2010 Mercedes-Benz G-Class SUV

When a model remains in production with its hallmark traits virtually untouched since 1979, constant updates are more of a norm than the exception. Coinciding with the G-Class' thirtieth birthday, Mercedes-Benz added new interior features to its SUV model. The 2010MY G-Class benefits from newly developed front seats as well as a new rear bench with customers offered the choice between black or grey fabric upholstery and leather appointments either in black, grey or chestnut, or optionally, the new 'climatised' multicontour seats.

Mercedes did not release any interior photos of the updated G-Class, but the automaker said that the line-up now includes the so-called designo leather upholstery in classic red or black as well as designo wood trim in black piano lacquer. In early 2010, buyers will also be able to opt for the designo stone trim in Labrador blue pearl.

Other interior updates include the addition of an Aux-in socket in the glove compartment and a new ignition key while, indirect ambient interior lighting, a leather-trimmed dashboard, an extensive Chrome package as well as a media interface to connect an iPod, USBor Aux devices have been added to the options list.

On the outside, the 2010MY G-Class gets a modified spare wheel cover with a three-dimensional Mercedes star while the German firm has added two new paintworks to the mix, the "palladium silver metallic" and the "designo platinum magno" matt finish.

The G-Class is offered in three body variants (short Station Wagon, long Station Wagon and Cabriolet) that can be combined with either a 224HP V6 diesel (G 350 CDI) or two gasoline V8 engines producing 388HP in the G 500 and 507HP in the G55 AMG model. Mercedes-Benz recently decided to extend the production of the G-Class until 2015.

Mercedes Extends G-Class Production until 2015

The "Highlander" of the automobile industry, the Mercedes-Benz G-Class that has been in production since the spring of 1979, will continue to live on for at least six more years as Daimler AG has signed an agreement with Magna Steyr to produce the robust off-roader at the company's plant in Graz, Austria until 2015. In the 30 years that the G-Class has been in production, Mercedes-Benz has sold around 200,000 examples of the vehicle worldwide.

To celebrate the G-Class' 30-th anniversary, Mercedes-Benz recently launched two special edition versions of the rugged off-roader called EDITION30 and EDITION30.PUR - see details here.

Brabus Launches Ludicrous Mercedes G-Class V12 S Biturbo with 700HP

Does a twin-turbocharged, V12-powered Mercedes-Benz G-Class with 700-horsepower make any sense to you - because as hard as we tried, we couldn't find anything sensible about Brabus' latest creation that will be revealed at next month's Geneva Motor Show. Even though it has been in production for precisely three-decades now, the G-Class remains without doubt, one of the world's most capable off-roaders.

Still, Brabus believes - and they're probably right- that there's a wealthy group of people out there who are willing to pay €379,000 ($482,000 U.S. with today's exchange rates) to buy a G-Class that has been virtually stripped out of its off-road capabilities -21 inch alloys shod in 295/40 R21 tires leaves no doubts about that- but has gained some serious power for the asphalt.

But anyways, time to see the Brabus-prepped G-Class in detail. Under the hood of the German SUV lurks a modified version of the V12 Biturbo engine from the latest Mercedes S 600. Brabus increased the V12's displacement from 5.5 to 6.3 liters (336 to 384 cubic inches). Along with a series of other upgrades, the V12 now produces 700HP at

In the G-Class the BRABUS S V12 S displacement engine produces 700HP at 5,100 rpm and a peak torque of 1,320 Nm (973 lb-ft) at 2,100 rpm. In the car, the peak torque is electronically limited to 1,100 Nm (811 lb-ft).

Combined with a special five-speed automatic transmission and permanent four-wheel drive the G-Class literally catapults itself from rest to 100 km/h (62 mph) in a mere 4.3 seconds. Top speed is limited electronically to 240 km/h (150 mph) but if you're brave enough to remove the self-imposed limit, the G-Class could reach 260 km/h (163 mph).

To improve handling, Brabus equipped the G-Class V12 S Biturbo with a custom suspension and a high-performance brake system while the SUV sits on a set of forged Monoblock VI 21-inch alloys shod with size 295/40 R 21 tires front and back.

On the outside, the G-Class V12 S Biturbo is distinguished by aerodynamic-enhancement components that include a front apron with LED daytime running lights and a new rear bumper. The vehicle's interior has been enhanced with an ergonomically shaped sport steering wheel, a speedometer with 280-km/h scale (175 mph), stainless-steel scuff plates with illuminated BRABUS logo and a handcrafted fully leather interior.