We’ve been treated to some pretty cool looking 4x4s of late. Earlier this week we had the new Bronco to get excited about, and just before that Jeep revealed a V8-engined Rubicon concept. Now it's Mercedes turn to get in on the fun. The new 4x4² isn't close to going on sale yet - but here it is, virtually undisguised and unequivocally good in all the ways a toughened G-Class ought to be.
Widened arches, lifted suspension and chunky tyres emphasise the work that’s gone on underneath, with thick struts just visible from certain angles to affirm that, like the old 4x4², the new car will go as good as it looks. It’s set to be the active CEO’s wet dream with underside guards, a ladder-accessible roof rack and mud flaps, plus 4.0-litre V8 power to match. Expect as much off-road kudos as possible along with about ten times more cool than normal.
While the lack of disguise suggests the 4x4² is fast incoming, a Mercedes spokesperson hinted to PH that the model wouldn’t hit roads this year. Which is probably for the best, given the go-anywhere capabilities of the model; heading out into the wilderness would probably be only half as fun if you can’t take your mates along with you.
Expect prices to nudge beyond the £150k required to bag a G63 in road-biased form. Quite how Mercedes will choose to badge the 4x4² remains to be seen (it doesn't traditionally belong in Mercedes-AMG's remit). Either way, don’t expect the manufacturer to have trouble finding buyers; the US and Middle East have a huge appetite for this sort of stuff. Hence the glut of new models being unveiled. When they look like this, it's hard to complain.
Original story: 26/05/2020
Mercedes is apparently putting the finishing touches to the '4x4 squared' version of its current G-Class; a derivative which, like its predecessor, appears certain to get beefier suspension, chunky off-road boots and no shortage of LED lighting in its makeover. The 4x4 has proved immensely popular, especially in the Middle East, so the fast-approaching arrival of the new model is expected to include the retention of AMG V8 power – along with an improbable sticker price.
While it'll doubtless remain a plaything for the very wealthy, the appeal of the even-more-go-anywhere G-Wagen is obvious enough. The G-Class’s 2018 renewal saw it incorporate the latest in tech into a body doing a concerted W463 impression, so the new additions – including widened tracks and arches, a roof rack and rear-end additions including a ladder, metal bumper and spare wheel – ought to enhance its wilderness capabilities while dialling up the macho image to gold-plated AK-47 levels.
A similar recipe was used on the old 4x4, not to mention the 6x6 model which made great inroads on the American and Middle Eastern dune-jumping markets. Naturally these are places where fuel economy is somewhat lower in the pecking order, making fitment of AMG’s twin-turbo 4.0-litre out of the box seem likely - even if Mercedes opt to dial back on the 585hp and 630lb ft of torque delivered in the G63. Expect a lot of V8 burble either way.
The 4x4 is likely to tip the scales at comfortably more than the 2.56-tonne G63 thanks to its additional underbody muscle – which should include plenty of beefy, structural protection – so you'd imagine that AMG's V8 was a necessary ingredient - especially if you're hoping to replicate the amount of air generated by earlier G-Class 4x4s and 6x6s (see PH’s old review here for evidence). Although given the increasingly diverse demands of buyers these days, expect the new car to be somewhat better on the road, too.
As for pricing, given that the G63 is nudging £150k with its more street-biased setup, the hardened version is likely to cost north of that figure. Which obviously won't put off any of its buyers for a nanosecond.
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