Mercedes has revealed a facelift for the G Class with a new 4.0 litre V8, more power, better economy, tweaked suspension and a new AMG Special Edition.
We reported just last month that Mercedes were about to reveal the G Class facelift and that it would get the new 4.0 litre turbo V8 from the AMG GT. Which they have, and it does.
The arrival of the more powerful and more economical 4.0 litre V8 under the bonnet of the latest G Class is probably the big news, or at least it would be if Mercedes offered the G500 in the UK. They don’t, so you’ll have to settle for the more prosaic G 350 Diesel or go mad and grab a G 63 or G 65.
But whichever model you do choose, the 2015 updates are well-judged and appealing.
The new V8 for the G500 delivers more power – 416bhp and 450lb/ft of torque – allowing it to get to 62mph in 5.9 seconds, just 0.5 seconds behind the G63. All the more reason to make it available in the UK.
In the UK, the real seller (and even then it’s not huge numbers) is the G 350 diesel, which gets a power boost to 242bhp and 443lb/ft of torque, enough to make the G 350 a bit more sprightly, with the 0-62mph trot now taking 8.9 seconds.
At the top of the G Class tree, the AMG models also get a bit more power, with the V8 G 63 now with 563bhp and the V12 G 65 getting 621bhp, and there’s improved standard suspension with better ride and dynamics and adjustable dampers with Sport and Comfort settings on the G 500.
Cosmetic tweaks include new bumpers and flared wheelarches and 18″ five-spoke alloys for the G 350d.
Finally, there’s a limited edition AMG 463 model on offer with a ‘sporty’ look including two-tone everything inside, lumps of carbon fibre, stainless steel skid plates, AMG stripes and 21″ alloys.
The new Mercedes G Class will be available to order from summer 2015.
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