This is a container, and that's a container as well.
Only that's the fastest container in the world. That's what we call the Mercedes-AMG G63 at AutoWeek.
There might be faster SUV's nowadays, like the Lamborghini Urus for example, but there's only one G-Class.
And you might get a deja vu-feeling, I know I have a deja vu.
Six years ago, we also drove a G63 AMG, but this is a completely new one.
No screw has remained the same. Not the engine, not the car, nothing.
The only thing what resembles the old G-Class when it comes to technology, is the ladder chassis.
And the exterior of course, because it's very similar to the old one.
When you look at it at first, you almost don't see it's new, but it is.
It's six centimetres wider in the interior, it's five centimetres longer, but they've packaged it so neatly,
it almost still looks like the first G-Class. The first G-Class that was introduced 40 years ago.
Anyway. Icons should be cherished by manufacturers. Just think about Suzuki's Jimny. The new one really resembles...
the original. Or look at what Jeep to the Wrangler. They've introduced a completely new version,
but if you put it next to an old one, you can almost see no differences.
I think that's a very nice thing, but it's rather special that they're able to do that in these times. With all of that electrification.
The regulations around CO2-emissions are getting sharper and sharper as well, but they've still introduced a new G-Class,
which is available as AMG as well. It produces 299 gr. of CO2,
so they were able to keep it below 300, which is a very neat accomplishment.
Right then, an entirely new G-Class. I've been driving it around this morning and I do have to say,
it's better than its almost 40 year old predecessor. That's also because of the front suspension,
which now is independent, which wasn't the case with its predecessor.
When you steered it, it was like driving an oil tanker. You would go straight for a long time and after that,
you would go around the corner at a certain point. You might remember the video from six years ago,
the way I sat next to Roland... I drove it myself back then as well,
and this is a big improvement.
Right, I do have to admit something. I've only driven the previous G-Class as an AMG.
I don't know any better than when you put your foot down, it goes like crazy.
This really is insane.
The G63 AMG really rises like a bucking horse. It'll keep pulling.
The body will move, the air suspension kicks in and the damping tries to process everything,
but it's still 585 horsepower and 850 Nm of torque. So what does that mean for its 0-100-time?
Well, 4,5 seconds. That's crazy. You just don't know what you're in for.
It's really crazy. They've limited it to 220 km/h, so it can't compete with the quickest of SUV's.
An Urus will go over 300 km/h, a Bentayga will go over 300 km/h, but that doesn't matter. People don't buy this car for going fast.
What's typically G-Class as well is the handlebar for the passenger, which they'll need.
What is entirely new however, is that enormous screen. It reminds me of the screen in the new A- and E-Classes.
It's not the same MBUX-multimedia system as in the A-Class, because if I say: "Hey Mercedes, navigate to the Sahara",
nothing will happen. But that would be a step too much for the G-Class...
Driving a G-Class is a little like seeing a polar bear in the desert. It's not of this time, but it's very special.
The new G-Class was introduced to us at the start of 2018, and it's finally for sale now.
You can get it as G500 as well, which'll get you a biturbo V8 too.
That's the entry spec engine too, and that's different than 1979 when it was first introduced.
Actually, this car was meant as a working horse. You had very normal versions as well.
You even had a G240d, which was a diesel version producing 72 horsepower.
That would be the same as if they had a G250 or G220 CDI, with a 200 horsepower 4-cylinder engine in the front.
That's unthinkable, because the G-Class has become a toy for the richest of the earth.
A toy for sheiks, a car for Dubai. But it's a toy for rich people in the Netherlands as well.
If you dare to be seen in it that is. I mean, those sidesteps, those side-exhausts...
It's a tad vulgar isn't it? But when you drive next to a wall, or through a tunnel,
you just open your window and you put it in Sport Plus...
And you burn up some fuel and see the fuel economy rise to 4 km per litre...
3 km per litre if you really try... And you can still do that, and that's remarkable these days.
Anyway, there's bound to be a diesel version in the lifespan of this generation.
That will be a lot more economical.
Of course, Mercedes has enough fancy SUV's. Actually, they've got a showroom filled with them.
And they're still able to have an icon like this next to those, in 2018/2019.
The G500 starts at €176.000, and it drives a little differently than this.
This has accounted for more violence under the hood. A G500 is a very nice car as well, and it starts at €176.000.
For an extra €56.000, you can get this G63 AMG. And that's good news, because that's €4.000 cheaper than its predecessor.
And with that, I can easily say that this G-Class is better than its predecessor after 40 years.