Mercedes-Benz bringing 6×6-inspired G550 to US market

The
Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen was updated for European markets early last year. Now, finally, the so-called G500 4×4
2 is coming to the US market, and aside from a name change,
Mercedes isn’t watering it down for the trip across the pond.

The new model will carry on the base G-Wagen’s US-market designation, G550, with the 4×4
2 moniker attached. That constitutes the bulk of the changes from the European model. As we
said at the SUV’s debut during the
2015 Geneva Motor Show, the 4×4
2 is basically the insane 6×6 sans a third axle. Its beefed up suspension adds 7.9 inches of ground clearance, for 17.2 inches total, and the fording depth is up from nearly two feet to well over three feet.

And what if you run across a more solid obstacle? Off-road-focused tires sacrifice some ride comfort for even greater ability, while the brawny suspension helps increase the approach and departure angles from 30 degrees to 51.6 and 43.8 degrees, respectively. The breakover angle is almost doubled, at 47.4 degrees. In other words, the new G550 4×4
2 is basically unstoppable.

That adjective is also applicable to the 4×4
2’s engine. It’s the same 4.0-liter, twin-turbocharged V8 in the current G550. Good for 416 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque, Mercedes hasn’t published official performance figures yet. For reference, the current SUV will hit 60 in 5.8 seconds and run all the way up to 130. We’d expect broadly similar performance from the updated model.

Mercedes hasn’t announced pricing for the 2017 4×4
2, but it’s expected to hit
dealers early next year.

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