Mercedes-Benz G-Class

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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. Designed to be the most durable, reliable, and rugged machine with four wheels, the G-wagen is a highly sophisticated off-road vehicle utilizing three fully locking differentials. (The only SUV sold in the U.S. to have such) Used by many countries for military use, The G-wagen is quite possibly the most capable off road vehicle sold to the public. 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 was relaunched as the G55 Kompressor or G55K and received a boost in power, thanks to a 5.5-liter, supercharged V8 developing 469 horsepower and 516 lb.-ft. of torque.

[edit] 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 GL-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.

[edit] 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 G-Wagen were successful in selling G-Wagens (mostly W463s) that had been modified to meet US DOT specifications for around $135,000.

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[edit] W463

The chassis was revised for 1990 as the W463 with anti-lock brakes and a full trio of electronically-locking differentials. The V8-powered 500GE was new for 1993, catering to more of a luxury than off-road crowd with only center and rear differential locks and a luxurious cabin of leather and wood. This luxury-Wagen lasted just two years, however. All G-Wagens began using Mercedes-Benz's new letter-first naming scheme in 1994.

The range was refreshed again in 1997, including the introduction of a power-topped convertible and two new engines, the turbo 2.9 L Diesel and the V6-powered (M112 motor) G320 - previous years' G320s were outfitted with the M104 I6. The luxury G-wagen returned for 1998 as the G500, with official sales beginning in the United States in 2002 at $75,000. The 349 hp (260 kW) G55 AMG cemented the vehicle in the American market, however, with many snapped up by celebrities. A 476 hp (355 kW) G55, introduced in 2004, could hit 60 mph in just 5.5 seconds.

[edit] W463 Cabrio

The G-class Cabrio is the only handmade 4x4 in the world that has a power-top and the highly sophisticated off-road vehicle utilizing three fully locking differentials (The only SUV sold in the U.S. to have such). There are only twenty of these handmade vehicles produced a year in Graz, Austria. [1]Mercedes Benz USA does not import the G-class Cabrio to the United States but private importers such as Europa G-Wagen has imported these vehicles that cost up to 135,000 U.S. dollars.[2]

[edit] W463 / X164 (2006 and beyond)

It was rumored that, with military contracts for the G-Class completed, production of the old G-wagen in Graz, Austria would cease as of 2006. However, current reports[3] state that production of the current G-wagen will continue for the foreseeable future, alongside its once-intended replacement, the GL-Class (X164). An outcry among enthusiasts who admired the G-Class for its tremendous off-road potential (for example, the only SUV in the North American market with 3 locking differentials) showed that a market still existed for such a vehicle. Mercedes-Benz elected to continue G-Class production for the hardcore off-road market, while the larger 3-row GL-Class would be marketed as a competitor for the likes of the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator.

As of July 2006, Mercedes-Benz announced a late-availability 2006 model year G-Class on their website.[4] The company also decided to show a facelifted 2007 model at the Paris Auto Show in September of 2006.[5] and to increase the power of the G 55 K AMG version from 476 to 500 hp.

It is also possible that a compact off-roader called G-Class will be built, both as a 3-door and as a 5-door, besides the GLK-Class compact crossover SUV.

The new G-Wagen will use the company's updated 4-valve V6 and V8 engines and will have an updated interior and exterior.

[edit] Military Use

Image:Mercedes-Benz Geländewagen Norwegian military fq.jpg

[edit] Austrian Army

The Austrian Army has been a long time user of various Puch G models.

[edit] German Armed Forces

The German Armed Forces uses the G-Class under the name "Wolf". Over 12.000 vehicles have been delivered in over 50 versions, ranging from ambulance vehicles to armored vehicles used by the German special forces.

[edit] Canadian Army

A total of 1,159 vehicles have been ordered by the Canadian Army beginning in late 2003.[6] An armored kit can be fitted (or removed) in 8 hours by 3 soldiers. The rugged construction of the G-Class and the armor kit have been credited with saving the lives of a number of Canadians during their use in Afghanistan.

Delivery of these vehicles to Reserve units has also begun. It is currently set to completely replace the ILTIS by 2007 in LFCA. For the most exposed missions 75 RG-31 Nyala built by BAE Land Systems OMC, South Africa, will be used. [7]

[edit] Estonian Defence Forces

The Estonian Defence Forces have a small number of various G-Class vehicles, which were recently purchased to replace the outdated UAZ and Volkswagen Iltis jeeps.

[edit] United States Marine Corps

The U.S. Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance use the 290 GDT diesel 4x4 Mercedes-Benz G-Class for their operations.

[edit] Dutch Army

The Dutch Army uses various versions of the Mercedes-Benz G-Class.

[edit] Finnish Army

The Finnish Army uses the Geländewagen mostly as an ambulance, other versions are also in service.

[edit] French Army

The French Army have the Peugeot P4 which is a derivative from the G-Class equipped with Peugeot engine and equipment.

[edit] The Norwegian Armed Forces

The Norwegian Defence Force bought 240 GD to replace Volvo and Land Rover jeeps in the mid-1980s, and 300 GD to use as ambulances. During the early 90's 290 GD's where bought, and in the first half of the 00's a small number of armoured 270CDI's were put into service.

[edit] Danish Army

The Danish Army bought the 240GD/24 to supersede the M151A1, the Volkswagen 181 ("Jagdwagen") and the Land Rover 88. First deliveries were in 1985 and more than 1.300 have been put in service. Currently the Danes are taking delivery of up to 1.000 270CDIs. A number of 290 GDs and 300 GDs have also been used.

[edit] Singapore Army

The Singapore Army bought the 270 and 290 versions as secondary military transport. It is used in soft-top truck configuration and is known as a 1.5-tonner to its users. The Army also deploys the extremely short-wheelbase, soft-top version for its Colonels, Battalion COs, Brigade and Division Commanders as personal field transports.

[edit] Swiss Army

The Swiss Army uses the 230 with soft top as the primary general purpose carrier, and a hardtop version as mobile radio access point. It is in service since 1985 and gradually replaced Willys Jeeps, Haflinger light transports and Pinzgauer medium transports in the liaison and transport role. All versions in Swiss Army use are unarmed.

[edit] Famous owners

Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi - former reigning monarch of Iran
Arnold Schwarzenegger - actor/Governor of California owns two.
Nicole Richie - daughter of Lionel Richie
Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston - owned a G-Wagen during their marriage
Captain James Van Thach - The owner of four Gwagens and his G-class Cabrio was featured on a U.S. Army campaign for Marco Allen Benz, the great-great-grandson of Karl Benz when he enlisted in the United States Army.[8]

[edit] Models

200GE - M102E20 2.0 L I4
230G - M115 2.3 L I4]], 102 hp (75 kW), ??? ft·lbf (??? Nm)
230GE - M102E23 2.3 L I4]]]], 125 hp (92 kW), ??? ft·lbf (??? Nm)
280GE - M110 2.8 L I6]]]], 156 hp (115 kW), ??? ft·lbf (??? Nm)
240GD - OM616 2.4 L Diesel I4, 72 hp (53 kW), ??? ft·lbf (??? Nm)
250GD - OM602 2.5 L Diesel I4, 94 hp (69 kW), ??? ft·lbf (??? Nm)
G 270 CDI - OM612 2.7 L Diesel I5 (turbocharged), 156 hp (115 kW), 294 ft·lbf (400 Nm)
G 290 TD
300 GD - OM617 3.0 L Diesel I5 - later rebaged G 300
300 GE - M103 3.0 L I6 - later rebaged G 300
G 350TD
G 300TD - OM606 3.0 L Diesel I6(turbocharged), 177 hp (130 kW), 244ft·lbf (330Nm)
G 320 - M104 3.2 L I6, 217 hp (161 kW), 229 ft·lbf (310 Nm)
G 320 - M112 3.2 L V6, 215 hp (158 kW), 220 ft·lbf (300 Nm)
G 320 CDI - OM642 3.2 L Diesel V6, 224 hp (165 kW), 397 ft·lbf (540 Nm)
G 400 CDI - OM628 4.0 L Diesel V8 (turbocharged), 250 hp (184 kW), 411 ft·lbf (560 Nm)
500 GE - M117 5.0 L V8
G 500 - M113E50 5.0 L V8, 296 hp (218 kW), 336 ft·lbf (456 Nm)
G 55 AMG - M113E55 5.5 L V8 supercharged, 476 hp (350 kW), 514 ft·lbf (700 Nm)