By: Peter Perrotta
There was a time a few years back when – as the saying goes – your local Mercedes dealership in the U.S. literally couldn’t give their G wagons away.
I know this for a fact, because I sold them for six years.
The dealerships would get one or two G 550’s or G 63’s (the AMG version) a year. For the most part, those high priced odd looking SUV’s would sit on the lot until year end clearance time and only after significant mark downs would they finally find a home.
My how times have changed.
When the folks at Mercedes reinvented the iconic G wagons last year – G 550 and the AMG G 63 SUV – a global superstar was born.
The newly designed G class was kept true to its form. Mercedes left the outside design and sheet metal intact. However, the real revolution came with the total redesign of the once spartan interior.
Now, the rough and rugged G wagons come crammed with high tech creature comforts like a more vivid than life 12.3 inch high resolution color central command screen, an off-the-hook Burmeister Surround Sound System, fine Italian Nappa leather and much, much more.
I had the pleasure of recently road testing a 2020 G 63 SUV – this is a special vehicle featuring a hand crafted AMG 4.0 Liter V8 biturbo engine that puts out an amazing 577 horsepower at 627 pound feet of torque.
But, what makes this vehicle even more unique was that it came equipped with a very limited edition AMG option package tagged “Stronger Than Time.”
The price tag for all this amazing-ness is not for the everyday consumer.
The base price of the 2020 G 63 SUV is $152,500.
My tester had the following options added: $12,600 for the “Stronger Than Time” limited edition option package; $8,500 for an AMG inspired interior package; $6,500 for the Midnight Blue exterior paint; $3,700 for AMG carbon fiber trim; $1,200 for painting the rear mounted spare wheel cover in the same color as the vehicle paint; $400 for the Titanium Grey Pearl/ black leather interior and $995 for destination and delivery.
All totaled, the window sticker on my test vehicle was a breath taking $185,945.
So, one would expect that these high priced and unique looking SUV’s would be – like the old days – sitting on dealers lots untouched waiting to find a home during the year end markdown time.
As the French would say, “au contraire”.
The G 63 SUV has turned into one of the most sought after luxury SUV’s in the world. At the moment, there is an average wait time of anywhere from 18 months to two years at your local Mercedes dealership to purchase or lease one of these powerful beauties.
Moreover, most American Mercedes dealers are currently imposing a “market adjusted” pricetag on the 2020 G 63 SUV. The dealers are getting anywhere from $15,000 to $40,000 over the MSRP sticker price for these already high-priced SUV’s.
Put quite simply, it is an amazing turnaround for a boxy – and what more than a few customers have called “ugly” looking SUV.
The G 63 handcrafted AMG 4.0 liter V8 biturbo direct injection engine (577 HP) goes 0 to 60 in an amazing 4.5 seconds eventhough it carries a hefty curb weight of 5,842 pounds.
The engine is meshed with an AMG speedshift 9-speed transmission with shift paddles.
The automatic transmission has several “mode” options you can select, including comfort, eco, sport, sport plus and individual.
Let me clear the air by saying overall – while not for everyone – this is truly one amazing vehicle to drive. It exudes luxury while at the same time it oozes ruggedness, sportiness and performance like no other SUV in its class.
I have to raise my hand here and admit that when I selected the “sport plus” mode on the center console I was literally blown away by the performance of this engine as I accelerated down the highway. The G 63 emits a Nascar-like roar from the dual side exhaust upon take off. As the G shifts itself through its nine gears and then downshifts, the sounds this car makes are truly heart warming to the motoring enthusiast.
I am not sure I have ever experienced an automotive driving experience quite like it.
The G 63 gets its name from the original naturally aspirated 6.3 engines most of the Mercedes AMG vehicles once featured before switching over to the 4.0 liter bi-turbo V-8’s.
The engines are hand crafted, part by part, by master AMG technicians working in shops that are separate from where the standard Mercedes production vehicles are produced. The master tech who crafts the engine actually stamps his name on the engine in a platinum disc mounted on the engine block. The tech’s email address is also stamped there just in case the purchaser has any questions.
Mercedes AMG line of high performance cars was born in 1967 when two engineers began turning Mercedes Benz sedans into championship race cars.
The engineers, Hans-Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher, represent the A and M acronyms in AMG. The G comes from Aufrecht’s birthplace, Grossapach, Germany.
Some of the technical specs for the G 63 are as follows: EPA fuel rating, 14 mpg overall (13 city and 15 highway; wheelbase, 113.8 inches; length, 191.9 inches; height, 77.4 inches; width, 86.1 inches; headroom, 41.9 to 40.5; legroom, 38.7 inches to 39.5; shoulder room, 58.5 inches to 57.4.
The G 63 comes standard with permanent all wheel drive with a 2 speed transfer case and electromechanically lockable center, rear and front differentials.
Moreover, the G 63 is more than capable when it comes to off road driving.
Some of the off-road capability specs include: a ground clearance of 9.5 inches; a fording depth of 27.5 inches; an approach and departure angle of 31 degrees and 30 degrees, respectively; a breakover angle of 26 degrees; climbing ability of up to 100 percent and a lateral tilt angle of up to 70 percent on a slope.
Peter Perrotta’s On The Road column will appear weekly. Comments and questions are welcomed. To contact him, email [email protected]