Filed under: SUVs, Mercedes-Benz
2009 Mercedes G-Class comes in for subtle revisions, more power
The Mercedes G-Class is like the tux and tails -- its remains in vogue no matter what's happening in the world around it. And like the tux, it looks pretty much like it did when it first arrived, and changes to it still don't come quickly.
For the '09 model, the G has been given Mercedes' new corporate face, so you can better associate it with that CL65 you've got parked next to it in the garage. The big news, though, is in the engine bay. The base V8 engine gets a whopping 90-horsepower bump from 292 to 382. Torque also gets seriously goosed from 336 ft-lb to 391. The boosted V8 and the AMG G55 get a much more modest boost of 7 horsepower for an even 500.
Otherwise, the squared one gets new wheels and electronics, including a new Telematics system. There is no word yet on whether the celebrity chariot will come to the U.S., but we're sure Britney really wants one.
[Source: eMercedesBenz]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Jo. A. Borras 5:22PM (5/22/2008)
One of my customers supposedly has one coming in next month. Once we tune it, I'll post this same picture.
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Will 6:31PM (5/22/2008)
haha, you were still lurking around here just waiting to say that...awesome.
Yaroukh 5:22PM (5/22/2008)
I'm not in the market for this baby, yet somehow I'm glad they still made them.
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Eddie 5:30PM (5/22/2008)
Now that the H1 is gone, this is the king of SUVs. It looks mean and can hold its own offroad.
thorani 6:15PM (5/22/2008)
the G has always been the king of SUVs. It was the king back when the H1's creator was a mere glint in their father's eyes. They tried to kill it by introducing the GL, but the market demanded it continue production. Long live the king.
thorani 6:23PM (5/22/2008)
here here good sir. When i have my kids, im going to point to the G as the last example of the mercedes benz of old. its kinda sad actually.
what the world needs is more germans with pocket protectors and rulers. not idrive. not command.
Franz 6:31PM (5/22/2008)
In a strange twist of coincidence, I was just watching an old Top Gear rerun with the original G55 and promptly went scouring Auto Trader to get an idea of what the prices are like. Sadly, the cheapest one I saw (an '04 model) was still over $50k, so I won't be owning one just yet. I still like them a lot though. It's a proper SUV.
IK47 6:59PM (5/22/2008)
you don't have to want to buy a car to like it
example: I like the veyron, but I'm not in the market for one.
Yaroukh 7:07PM (5/22/2008)
you are right ofcourse
Dan 9:14PM (5/22/2008)
Started as an awesome offroad vehicle.
And they turned it into a wood trimmed, leather lined, chrome and glossy paint covered monstrosity on low profile tires that you'd be afraid to get dirty and only a lawyer could afford.
Pretty much what I imagine would happen if you told Cadillac to badge engineer a Jeep Wrangler.
Eddie 5:23PM (5/22/2008)
Thats surprising that they didnt dump the 5.5 kompressor and produce a G63 AMG.
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Jo. A. Borras 5:28PM (5/22/2008)
Not enough torque? Plus, they probably have to get rid of some surplus ...
Johnny 5:52PM (5/22/2008)
My neighbor had a G280 long ago. Yes G280 with the freakin 2.8 194hp 193 torque of the old C280 sedan. And it was fine.
Why are you people so worried about torque? Is 465 torque from the 6.3 at 4500RPM with a 7 speed automatic not good enough to move this thing from zero to thirty mph?
The 63AMG engine produces more HP at any RPM then the old 5.0 did, it also produces more torque at any RPM then the same old 5.0.
No one complained then.
IK47 7:02PM (5/22/2008)
they DID produce a G63 amg
but only ~10 were made
IK47 7:08PM (5/22/2008)
sorry, I made a mistake
the G63 amg had the V12, not the supercharged 5.5
LMBVette 5:42PM (5/22/2008)
Here is some fun.....
2008 G500 12 city/15 hwy
G55 11 city/13 hwy
Premium gas....doh!!!
I'm thinking if you own one of these....you don't care how much gas is....but dayum!!!
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Mark 5:50PM (5/22/2008)
You really have to question the stupidity of some of the things you write on Autoblog. Comments like "There is no word yet on whether the celebrity chariot will come to the U.S., but we're sure Britney really wants one." scream idiotic and why Autoblog is good for the headline and nothing else.
Of course it's coming to the U.S. - the United States accounts for half of G-Class sales worldwide. Why would you even bother putting such a stupid point into your article?
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Torrent 6:19PM (5/22/2008)
Damn.
Such harshness will NOT be tolerated! Now you take a timeout, Mark.
No Gold Star for you.
MikeofLA 6:00PM (5/22/2008)
$100K+ vehicle that still has exposed hinges, screws and the Aero Dynamics of a brick... FAIL!!!
I see these all the time in LA and I laugh at the poor dumbass who thinks their driving the top of the line Mercedes... GL is superior in everyway important to any LA suburbinite, stay at home wife... oh and all the "Gansta" wannabe. They should be used soley by the german military and rich off roaders. Stop Putting 28" rims on these things!
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thorani 6:13PM (5/22/2008)
you really dont understand the point of this vehicle. Its been in existance since the 70s largely unchanged. If the 600 Pullman still existed, this would be the accompanying vehicle for the african president in the back seat. The G exists to do combat with the Range and it does just fine. The GL is for Orange women who drive between starbucks and hair salons. The G doesnt go after that crowd at all.