Mercedes-Benz G-Class

DaimlerChrysler offers a series of sport utility vehicles to the public under the Mercedes-Benz brand as G-Class. Commonly referred to as the G-Wagen, short for Geländewagen (or Cross-Country Vehicle), Mercedes secured military contracts for the vehicle in the late 1970s and offered a civilian version to the public in 1979. Never an entirely Mercedes product, the G-Wagen was a joint Steyr-Daimler-Puch development and are assembled by Magna Steyr in Graz, Austria. Mercedes' part was to provide the drivetrain as well as interior design on civilian vehicles, and Steyr retained distribution rights in certain regions under the Puch name. Among the engines offered in the G-Class for the 2004 model year is a 5.5-litre V8. Major models include the G500, and G55 AMG. Marking its 25th anniversary, the 2005 Mercedes-Benz G55 AMG receives a boost in power, thanks to a 5.5-liter, supercharged V8 developing 469 horsepower and 516 lb.-ft. of torque. The 2006/2007 G-Wagen will use the company's updated 4-valve V6 and V8 engines and will have an updated interior and exterior.

History

The G-Wagen was first offered for sale in 1979 and redesigned in 1990 and updated in 1997. A new version was expected for 2007, but the new R-Class will not replace the G-Wagen and it will continue to be hand built in Graz, Austria at an annual production rate of 4,000 to 6,000 units.

W460/W461

The original W460/W461 G-Wagen went onsale for the 1979 model year. It was offered in two wheelbases and three body styles: A 2-door short-wheelbase convertible, a 2-door short-wheelbase wagon, and a long-wheelbase 4-door wagon.

This version of the G-Wagen was popular with military and offroad enthusiasts, with more than 50,000 built in the first decade. The vehicle was not offered in the United States officially, but with the demise of the "casual importation" grey-market in the mid-1980s, importers like Europa International were successful in selling G-Wagens (mostly W463s) that had been modified to meet US DOT specifications for around $135,000.