Monday 26th April 2010

New G-Class: RHD Specs And Prices

Mercedes-Benz confirms the G-Class's return to the UK

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City slicker...

Mercedes-Benz has released prices and specs for the iconic G-Class, which as we revealed in January, is returning to the UK in right-hand-drive guise later this year.

The G-Class celebrated its 30th anniversary last year and has sold 200,000 units, but it hasn't been made with RHD for the last decade. It will return to our roads in the autumn with a choice of diesel or supercharged petrol engines, when we reckon it will provide the new PistonHeads test fleet Defender with its only rival in terms of ultimate 'street cred', albeit at a significantly greater price.

Rural runabout...

Customers will be able to choose between the G 350 CDI which produces 221 hp and returns 25.7 mpg, and the range topping G 55 AMG KOMPRESSOR, which produces 500 hp and reaches 0-62 mph in 5.5 seconds, M-B says.

Both the G 350 CDI and the G 55 AMG will feature a wealth of standard equipment including: Automatic climate control; automatic transmission, with high and low gear ratios; Bi-Xenon headlamps, heated seats with memory, leather upholstery (including the dashboard) as well as COMAND, a reverse parking aid and a Harman Kardon Logic 7 Sound system.

Or 'Gangsta'...

The G-Class range offers high-performance driving dynamics, says M-B, but also supreme off road ability. Electronic control systems ensure maximum traction, handling and stability on any terrain and the 100 per cent locking differentials, permanent all-wheel drive and off-road ratios prove their worth off the beaten track, making the G-Class world class in any off road conditions, they reckon.

So what's it going to cost? Well the entry model will be the commercial G 300 CDI Professional, apparently designed for tough working conditions in hard-to-reach locations and costing from from £57,975 OTR. The G 350 CDI will be available from £79,975 and the G 55 AMG KOMPRESSOR will cost £114,975 OTR.

The G-class does it all

The G 350 CDI and G 55 AMG KOMPRESSOR will be exclusively available from the Specialist Products Division at Mercedes-Benz World at Brooklands as will the G 300 CDI Professional.

[182pilot]

Want one

[Garlick]

Me too, I've wanted one for as long as I can remember.

Will definitely have one in my lifetime, oh

[Garlick]

inkiboo said:

Just buy a Range Rover

Completely different though, really they are.

They are both luxurious and have 4x4 but the character of the G is unique.

[Andrew[MG]]

Another car that 99% of PHers must want in their drive?

[lionrampant]

This has never appealed to me for some reason. Yet strangely I'd take the Defender in a heartbeat.

[belleair302]

Rubbish 4x4, rubbish on the road and more suited to people in Hollywood that those in Kensington!

Spend you money elsewhere for street cred in my opinion!

[sleep envy]

a G55 please, for the burble alone

[don logan]

inkiboo said:

Just buy a Range Rover

Have you driven both?

The newest RRs are impressive but will never make you laugh like a G55 can!

And in 10 years the RR will be a knackered RR and the G will still be worth something.

[pokethepope]

Would take a LR Defender over this as well...

[TheRoadWarrior]

Pistonheads could have said:

Customers will be able to choose between the G 350 CDI which returns 25.7 mpg, and the range topping G 55 AMG KOMPRESSOR, which doesn't.

[erics]

i recently drove a 320 cdi cab, it was a lot of fun, even when my 'regular' is a 911 turbo.

[Remagel2507]

TheRoadWarrior said:

Pistonheads could have said:

Customers will be able to choose between the G 350 CDI which returns 25.7 mpg, and the range topping G 55 AMG KOMPRESSOR, which doesn't.

However I want one NOW!!!

[Nick_Johnson]

The last G-Wagen we had was a 280GE Short Wheel Base, I will never forget selling such an old car for such a lot of money.

The way these G Wagons are built is why they are so different to the likes of your run of the mill Range Rovers, Discovery's etc,etc. I cant think of another car which has done the full circle, whereby its design has come back into fashion.

While Snow Boarding in Verbier over Christmas I can tell the G55's driving about town where getting a lot more interest than any Ranger Rover or similar mass produced 4X4.

This car is an icon, and I would be very happy to either model sat on my driveway.

Nick

[hairyben]

Great motor for what it is, but seems pricey compared to the competition, especially the commercial variant- shirley there can't be many businesses willing to pay 3 times the price of a defender?

[Garlick]

I still remember my first drive of one, must have been 1993, in a 3.0 Petrol LWB.

My dealer principle asked me to take a W124 320E up to a car show in Stafford and I thought he intended me to drive it. Sadly he wanted me to tow it on a trailer with the G and I had never towed in my life. That certainly was a nerve racking introduction to a car that I grew to love.

A year or so later I sold a 280 petrol to an ex- traveller, who threatened to 'break my legs' if anything broke on it....

[sleep envy]

Garlick said:

I still remember my first drive of one

I've yet to experience one from the driver's seat

[The Wookie]

pokethepope said:

Would take a LR Defender over this as well...

I honestly don't think you can compare the two. It's like comparing a Caterham to a 911 (sort of). You could easily have both.

In terms of Range Rover S/C vs G55, my old man has both. The Range Rover is the better car by far, but the G is the one you'd keep forever.

I can totally understand how people don't 'get' the G. It's a real love or hate thing but, contrary to what some think, the appeal is not all about the image. I think the appropriate phrase is 'perfection is easy to admire, but difficult to love'.

[BUG4LIFE]

A G-wagon would be my first buy if [when] I win the lotto, I love them - check out the crazy Brabus wide-body version

[The Wookie]

TheRoadWarrior said:

Pistonheads could have said:

Customers will be able to choose between the G 350 CDI which returns 25.7 mpg, and the range topping G 55 AMG KOMPRESSOR, which returns about 25.7 l/100km

EFA

[louismchuge]

Um, is nobody else blown away by the £115k price tag?!