All Hail The King of The Off Road
We didn’t think it was possible, but Mercedes-Benz has managed to stretch its Gelandewagen lineup beyond the already insane G63 AMG and G65 AMG. This new beast is called the G63 AMG 6×6, and it just might be the best answer for anyone who’s ever wished for a set of wheels combining AMG performance with a few Unimog-inspired off-road bits.
Benz’s stable already included a three-axled, six-wheeled G-Class, but it was developed for military purposes and is powered by the automaker’s ubiquitous six-cylinder turbodiesel. Now,
Mercedes has somehow justified a civilian version, powered by the G63 AMG’s 5.5-liter twin-turbo V-8 rated at 529 hp and 560 lb-ft of torque.
In addition to the third axle, the G63 AMG 6×6 features five electric differential locks (the standard G has three) and Benz’s seven-speed auto. It boasts 18.1 inches of ground clearance (almost 10 inches more than a normal G-Class), thanks to its Unimog-style portal axles, which senior features editor Jonny Lieberman succinctly explains as half shafts that “enter the top of the wheels, as opposed to the center” and is “geared down to the wheel hubs.”
The luxurious interior is essentially pulled from a normal G63 AMG, showcasing diamond-stitched leather seats, multi-zone climate control, and Benz’s infotainment system. European customers who want one should be prepared to shell out at least $400,000, which makes the G63 AMG 6×6 the second-most expensive production model Mercedes-Benz after the SLS Electric Drive.
Benz’s stable already included a three-axled, six-wheeled G-Class, but it was developed for military purposes and is powered by the automaker’s ubiquitous six-cylinder turbodiesel. Now,
Mercedes has somehow justified a civilian version, powered by the G63 AMG’s 5.5-liter twin-turbo V-8 rated at 529 hp and 560 lb-ft of torque.
In addition to the third axle, the G63 AMG 6×6 features five electric differential locks (the standard G has three) and Benz’s seven-speed auto. It boasts 18.1 inches of ground clearance (almost 10 inches more than a normal G-Class), thanks to its Unimog-style portal axles, which senior features editor Jonny Lieberman succinctly explains as half shafts that “enter the top of the wheels, as opposed to the center” and is “geared down to the wheel hubs.”
The luxurious interior is essentially pulled from a normal G63 AMG, showcasing diamond-stitched leather seats, multi-zone climate control, and Benz’s infotainment system. European customers who want one should be prepared to shell out at least $400,000, which makes the G63 AMG 6×6 the second-most expensive production model Mercedes-Benz after the SLS Electric Drive.
Benz’s partner Magna Steyr will produce the G63 AMG 6×6 at its Austrian plant alongside the other G-Classes, with an annual production run of about 20-30 units. Judging by the video of it in action on sand dunes in Dubai, the Benz 6×6 is still a very capable off-roader that will surely turn a lot of heads.
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