Mercedez Benz News Under Consideration: Mercedes-Benz G500 4x4²

[William Maley]

The Mercedes-Benz G-Class (Geländewagen) has somehow become the brand's Frankenstein. What we mean is the SUV has been part of a number of crazy projects. A key example is the G63 AMG 6x6 which brought together a turbo V8 and a number of off-road tweaks to make it a complete monster.

 

The latest creation is the G500 4x4² (4x4 squared) which takes some of the hardware found in the 6x6 (portal axles) and a lifted suspension, and places it into a standard G550. Mercedes says the G500 4x4² offers 17.7 inches of ground clearance (the standard G550 only offers 8.1 inches of ground clearance) and can ford up to 39.3 inches of water. At the moment, Mercedes sells the G500 4x4² in various European countries. But that could be changing.

 

Speaking with Motor1, Bart Herring, Mercedes' general manager of product planning in the U.S. said the G500 4x4² could be coming to the U.S. At the moment, the German automaker is currently deciding and Herring said it's "very close to a good decision".

 

The G-Class isn't a big seller for the brand in the U.S. Sales last year totaled 3,616 models. But that number is an increase over 2014 sales (3,090 models), so it appears there is demand for this model.

 

Source: Motor1.com

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[G. David Felt]

We'll I have to give MB as they built a version of the 40 year virgin that I actually like. A lifted SUV. 

 

Now in regards to the 4x4² (4x4 squared) I am not sure what it really means, but I do love the big ground clearance, big tires, etc. It should sell well here.

 

Biggest issue is that this is a very old platform and as Drew showed at one of the auto shows last year the mix n match of screws and parts so that there is no quality in how these over priced SUVs are built.

 

I remember looking at the G wagon on display at the Seattle auto show and showing the family and my parents the crazy price and mixed n match screws.

 

One of the reps said it was a show model only and that the real G wagons are all perfect only to have his BS story blow up when another rep came by to show off the SUV to another attendee and said it came off their lot at the Seattle MB dealer ship, just having arrived.