Friday 1st June 2012

Merc reveals another AMG SUV

AMG engine surplus results in GL63 ... well, there had to be some reason

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The G63 driven by Harris earlier in the week is, by any rational measure, a ludicrous car. But one with charisma, heritage and ... side exhausts. The latter and credibility earned over more than three decades means the G-Wagen can just about carry it off.

Which leads us to this, the latest recipient of AMG's 5.5-litre twin-turbo V8. You can probably fill in the blanks...

More bed hopping for the AMG V8...

To be fair there weren't many gaps in the Merc range that haven't been AMG'd, R-Class included for one brief moment and, in the not too distant, A- and B-Class too. That gaping hole in the range has now been plugged by the GL 63 AMG, giving the world another seven-seat SUV that can crack 60mph in less than five seconds. Just what we needed, eh!

The engine is the same as the G63 and other AMGs in the range, here producing 557hp and torque of 560lb ft, for a limited top speed of 155mph.

The GL 63 is predictably thirsty, but its 22.9mpg average is actually better than the GL 500 currently on sale. Put that down to the intelligence of the direct-injection engine, as well as the start-stop system. Hilariously, this lights up a green 'ECO' symbol in the dashboard when functioning.

There's no word on pricing for the new GL, but expect it to top the £83,290 it costs to buy the BMW X5 M. Hell, why not push it past £100,000. Seems like there's no ceiling on what some parts of the world will pay for top-end macho-glam SUVs - witness how quickly Land Rover sold out of the £120,000 Range Rover Autobiography Ultimate Editions last year.

The GL 63 goes on sale in the UK in 2013.

[loudlashadjuster]

I never thought I'd see the day when I'd consider that chucking a twin-turbo V8 into a car would be boring, but dare I say all these AMG Mercs are getting a little bit 'OMG NEW* PORSCHE!!' in the news fatigue stakes.

*different wheels, new colour, 10kg less, £15k more

[Richieboy3008]

Pointless, but brilliant!

[Reardy Mister]

Were I to win Euromillions, I would need something to carry me and few hookers mates around.

This would definitely be it. Or if I just needed a MPV/SUV type thing. Or if I didnt need one at all.

Lets face it, it has infinitely more class and cred than an Escalade.

I like it. But then I like Techart Cayennes too...

[sinbaddio]

Will this replace Lewis's GL420cdi comanpy car?

[Cheib]

Sub 5 secs in one of these? Blimey.

Mate of mine has got a standard one and loves it....has three kids and needs the space, or so he says. But he does live in Oz so the roads are more suitable.

[FWDRacer]

Cheib said:

Sub 5 secs in one of these? Blimey.

Mate of mine has got a standard one and loves it....has three kids and needs the space, or so he says. But he does live in Oz so the roads are more suitable.

And the pertol is half the price it is here

As for the Steroidal AMG SUV Merc. Meh.

[MiseryStreak]

Ooh that's attractive, can I have mine piping Janet Street Porter's voice out of it so the blind can hate me too?

[the_hood]

You'ld have to a Euro Millions winner or mad to justify buying one of these, but I love these pointless 500 bhp+ 4x4's!!

[mikey k]

Could be a good buy after it has depreciated like hell

[BuzzLightyear]

If they made a convertible version, that would be my perfect, one-car-garage car!

[lgomgf]

pointless and ugly car, why do the people at AMG do this? Can't be only because of money, can?

[lgomgf]

Reardy Mister said:

Lets face it, it has infinitely more class and cred than an Escalade.

No it does not... Escalades at least offer you room, lots of it and you can still pack you luggage inside the car, have you ever been inside of an Escalade?

[Reardy Mister]

lgomgf said:

Reardy Mister said:

Lets face it, it has infinitely more class and cred than an Escalade.

No it does not... Escalades at least offer you room, lots of it and you can still pack you luggage inside the car, have you ever been inside of an Escalade?

Im not a footballer or a rapper. So no.

[Cassius81]

Reardy Mister said:

lgomgf said:

Reardy Mister said:

Lets face it, it has infinitely more class and cred than an Escalade.

No it does not... Escalades at least offer you room, lots of it and you can still pack you luggage inside the car, have you ever been inside of an Escalade?

Im not a footballer or a rapper. So no.

I have, sadly. Shoddily made, crass looking, overpriced things.

Plus of course the Escalade wouldn't see which way the Merc went.

[Gridl0k]

If there's an engine surplus, my C43 is on 160K so I'll generously trade in the lump for lifetime analysis if they send over a 63, 5.4 or 6.2 Im not really bothered

[dvs_dave]

Will sell like hot cakes in the USA, ME, China and Russia.

[irish boy]

Put this engine in anything and I'll be happy. Great they have the gut's to go against the eco-flow and still build mad pointless cars. I'd still take the g63 first.......

[IATM]

100k is silly silly money and nothing ill every be able to touch unless it has 7 years depriciation on it BUT DAMMMM I LOVE IT.

[0a]

I like it far more than the G-class AMG.

Far too many shiny clean examples of the previous AMG G posing around London when I lived there a few years back - they have developed into a 'I have money to spend on a crap product' exercise in my opinion.

[tommy vercetti]

Bit bored of AMG SUVs