Mercedes G500 4x4 'squared' [UPDATED]

G-Wagen grows old disgracefully with 6x6's portal axles and super tough off-road spec [Updated with pics and vid]

The unstoppable Mercedes G-Wagen has slapped on some more armour against a Defender-style copycat killing in the form of the heroic G500 4x4_2. Forgive the underscore - it should read a superscript '2' to read '4x4 squared' but the wheezing PH CMS doesn't like it.

New G takes hardware from mad 6x6 version

Anyway, typographic complications aside Mercedes is calling the car a concept for now but says it'll start building them if the reaction to its unveiling at the forthcoming Geneva motor show is positive enough.

How could it not be positive? Underneath the bonnet lies Mercedes' latest 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, here making 422hp. Just knowing that the Euro6 engine fits and Mercedes is prepared to productionise it in the G-Class gives us hope that this model has a good few years yet, and could morph itself into a replacement for the 544hp G63 AMG version. Expect this one to cost almost as much, if not more than the £129,655 G63.

In terms of its off-road capabilities Mercedes has taken the hardware in the bonkers 6x6 G-Wagen and scaled it down for this model. Which means it gets the same portal axles that here lift ground clearance from 210mm on a regular G-Wagen LWB to 450mm here. Portal axles allow the hubs to drop well below the centre of the axle, and if that doesn't make sense this YouTube video gives you a good idea of how they work, albeit using Nissan Patrol bits as an example. The Unimog also uses them, likewise the original military Hummer and others.

Portal axles more than double ground clearance

We love how Mercedes completely understands that the G-Wagen is held in high esteem for both its posing presence and off-road unstoppability and tries very hard to marry the two. Which allows it to say that the outrageous positioning of the side-exiting exhaust pipes improve off-road capability because it removes the need for rear silencers "which could otherwise restrict the angle of departure". Oh, and the portal axles also allow for the fitment of massive 22-inch rims.

This car is still pretty much unmatched for off-road prowess among vehicles that could still conceivably be used in a car-like manner. As well as the portal axles, it has permanent all-wheel drive, low-range gearbox and, and three lockable differentials. Despite all that Mercedes still claims that the G-Wagen with its adjustable suspension "drives through bends so dynamically that the occupants feel as though they are in a sports car rather than a cross-country vehicle." Pinch of salt with that one perhaps.

G-Wagen has had hooning streak since the 70s

Glizty add-ons like the carbon fibre arch extenders, LED light strips above the windscreen and that egg-yolk yellow paint all complete the outrageousness of a vehicle that has no right to still be legal, let alone be adored by otherwise sensible folk like us.

Mercedes G500 'squared' promo vid