The AMG G 63 is the stuff of legends. 4-liter V8 biturbo, 585hp, 0-100km/h in 4.5 seconds, all for a cool RM1.5 million

The G-Class is an icon that has not changed much from when it was first launched FOURTY YEARS ago and if the G-Class is the Godfather of all SUVs then the G 63 is a legend among Godfathers. The “G” in G-Class stands for gelaendewagen, that simply means off-roader in German but I don’t think there will be a lot of owners who are willing to take their G 63 off road. The car is a beast with its 4-litre biturbo V8 putting out 585hp and a whopping 850Nm of torque, you hit100km/h from standstil in just 4.5 seconds and the 2.5 tonne box is capable of hitting a top speed of 220km/h (or 240 km/h with the AMG Driver‘s package). The G 63 is now available in Malaysia for a cool RM1.5 million (RM1,464,888 if you want to be precise about it), and yes, there’s only one variant of the G-Class in Malaysia and it is the best one.

At the heart of the G 63 is the stonking AMG 4-litre V8 biturbo engine that generates 585 hp and a maximum torque of 850 Nm. Each engine is built by one person as per AMG “one-man-one-engine” rule. To put the performance numbers into perspective, the single G 63 makes as much horsepower and torque as six MyVis! The power is on tap across a wide rev range between 2.500 and 3.500 rpm, imbuing the G 63 with a sense effortless superiority. 

The two turbochargers of the 4-litre V8 biturbo engine in the G 63 are positioned inside the cylinder “V” making for a compact engine design, spontaneous response of the turbochargers and low exhaust emissions thanks to optimal airflow to the near-engine catalysts. The G 63 is also an environmentally conscious car, with eco start/stop and for even more efficiency, Mercedes-AMG has equipped the V8 engine in the G 63 with the AMG Cylinder Management cylinder deactivation system. In the partial engine load, cylinders two, three, five and eight are deactivated, which significantly lowers the fuel consumption.

Transferring the power to all four wheels is the SPEEDSHIFT TCT 9G transmission with 4MATIC all-wheel drive. The transmission has a model-specific software application to achieve very short shift times. The multiple downshift function allows more spontaneous bursts of speed. The transmission will also auto-blip the throttle on downshifts when the G 63 is in “Sport” and “Sport Plus” transmission modes. The AMG Performance 4MATIC all-wheel drive features rear-biased torque distribution with a front/rear split of 40 to 60% (in the previous model the distribution was 50:50).

Mercedes claims that the new G 63 performs better off-road and on the road than the car it replaces thanks to the improved to the suspension system complete with AMG RIDE CONTROL as standard. In the G 63, the suspension has been completely redesigned and features coil springs all-round. For the first time, the front axle has an independent, double wishbone suspension while the rear features a rigid axle with a five-link suspension. 

The AMG RIDE CONTROL suspension is fully automatic, electronically controlled system that adjusts the damping at each wheel depending on road conditions, driving style and the selected suspension setting.

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The G 63 features changeable and configurable DYNAMIC SELECT driving modes. There are five on-road modes, “Slippery”,”Comfort”, “Sport”, “Sport+” and”Individual”. Each mode tweaks yey parameters such as the response of the engine, transmission, suspension and steering. Independent of the DYNAMIC SELECT drive programs, the driver has the option to switch directly to manual gearshift mode via shift paddles on the steering at the push of a button.

Beyond the on road modes, there are three off-road drive modes — 
“Sand”, “Trail” and “Rock” — as well because after all, the G 63 is still an off-roader complete with a ladder frame chassis. If the going gets really rough, you can also activate the differential lock from within the cabin. “Trail” allows maximum performance on soft, muddy or slippery surfaces. “Sand” modifies the parameters for sporty dynamics and the best possible grip and steering on sandy stretches or desert sand dunes. “Rock” is the mode for extremely demanding, rocky terrain with severe axle articulation and frequent lifting of one or more wheels.

While the G 63 is not a light vehicle, Mercedes has gone to considerable lengths to keep weight to a minimum. The wings, bonnet and doors are made of aluminium to save weight while the A and B-pillars are made of high-strength steel as these parts will have to bear load.

On the outside, the iconic shape of the G-Class is faithfully maintained boxy silhouette, external door hinges, round headlamps and all. The difference is that the G 63 gets protective strips with inserts in high-gloss black complete with a silver AMG emblem. The front section of the G 63 is characterised by the AMG-specific radiator grille and the AMG bumper with large side air inlets and trim in matt iridium silver. The headlamps, indicators and tail lights are in LED High-Performance technology as standard.