TARDY TARDIS OF OFF-ROADERS CELEBRATES 55 YEARS


Check out the ‘guns’ on this Mercedes-AMG G 63 Edition 55.

It’s one of three special editions to mark the 55th anniversary of the Mercedes go-
fast brigade.

Edition 55 adds $29,900 to the already asking price of $365,091 for the standard G
63, making it just that much more exclusive.

Trouble is, even if you’ve got the readies to buy what could be described as the
ultimate ‘bogan’ accessory – it could be a long wait because the standard G 63
remains out of stock.

Why? That’s a very good question. Someday Benz might actually reply to one of our
emails — God forbid return a phone call.

Originally designed as a military vehicle, the G-Class or G Wagen as it is often
called, still occupies a ladder chassis like fair dinkum 4x4s and retains go anywhere
capability – the AMG version perhaps less so.

And, a bit like Dr Who’s TARDIS, the rugged good looks hide a sumptuous interior
with all the mod cons that will fit.

Standard kit includes Nappa leather, a leather-trimmed dash, microfibre roof liner,
leather AMG Performance steering wheel, heated outer rear seats and a digital TV
tuner – not to mention a 590-watt Burmester sound system and 64 shades of mood
lighting.

The Edition 55 package ups the ante, with the addition of the Night Package and
Night Package II.

This adds gloss black finishes for the front splitter, trim elements on the louvres in
the outer air intakes, plus the inserts in the AMG side sill panels, the beltline trim
strip, the window line trim strip and the exterior mirror housings.

Tailpipe trims are finished in black chrome, as are the louvres in the AMG-specific
radiator grille.

Heat-insulating dark tinted glass is added, while model badges on the boot lid and
wings in high-gloss black complete the exclusive appearance.

Matt carbon-fibre trim elements and the addition of AMG 22-inch cross-spoke forged
wheels underline the attitude.

Inside, the seats of the Edition 55 are finished in distinctive red and black.
Powering the G 63 is a twin turbo 4.0-litre V8 that produces 430kW of power and
850Nm of torque, in combination with a nine-speed auto.

There’s also an AMG performance selectable exhaust system, AMG dynamic select
and AMG ride control.

Just like Jeep has the Rubicon Trail, every new G-Class must conquer the Scho¨ckl.
Benz uses the 1445-metre-high local mountain near the Austrian city of Graz as a
test track.

The 5.6km route includes gradients of up to 60 percent and lateral inclinations of up
to 40 percent.

Mind you, introduced in 2018, this is only the second-generation G-Wagen.

Edition 55 goes on sale February 7 and is available from Benz dealers and the
Mercedes-Benz online showroom.

About Chris Riley

Chris Riley has been a journalist for 40 years. He has spent half of his career as a writer, editor and production editor in newspapers, the rest of the time driving and writing about cars both in print and online. His love affair with cars began as a teenager with the purchase of an old VW Beetle, followed by another Beetle and a string of other cars on which he has wasted too much time and money. A self-confessed geek, he’s not afraid to ask the hard questions - at the risk of sounding silly.
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