Mercedes G-Class AMG

It's the oldest model in Mercedes' line-up, but G-Class is returning to British roads with a bang later this year!

And for the first time in a decade, UK customers will be able to get their hands on right-hand drive versions of the old-school luxury off roader, which celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2009.

Despite being the longest serving passenger model in the history of Mercedes, the brand will still be hailing it as a ‘new model’ when it arrives in October. Customers will be able to choose either the G350 CDI with 218bhp or the full blown G 55 AMG, which comes with a whopping 493bhp supercharged V8, and sprints from 0-62 in just 5.5 seconds.

There will also be a rough-and-tumble commercial only base model, dubbed the G 300 CDI Professional, propping up the bottom of the range. All of them are long wheelbase editions, so the G-Class will be equally comfortable whether wafting along like a luxury limo or up to its arches in a muddy Welsh field.

Both versions will come with tonnes of standard kit, including bi-xenon headlamps, a heavy duty Harmon Kardon Logic 7stereo, heated memory seats and a full leather interior.

Although it’s unlikely that many owners will drive it too far off the beaten track, the G-class still comes with fully locking differentials, an off road electronic stability programme and low-range ratios in the automatic box.

The cost of all this versatility and equipment is a steep one though, with prices for the G350 CDI starting from £79,975 OTR, and the range topping AMG will be from £114,975. The G wagons will be exclusively available from the Specialist Products division at Mercedes-Benz world in Woking.

Mercedes G63 AMG 6X6

Mercedes have unveiled a monstrous new rugged off-roader with six wheels - their first since a similar model was produced for the Nazis in 1930s Germany.

The outrageous Mercedes G63 AMG 6x6 is a limited edition model based on the iconic G-Wagon.

It has been designed to have the off-road capabilities of a tank, accelerate like a hot hatch and provide the luxury feel of a limousine.

To give it brutal acceleration, Mercedes has replaced the standard G Wagon's 3-litre diesel engine with a twin-turbocharged 5.5-litre V8.

The result is a 536bhp behemoth which is capable of 0-62mph in less than six seconds - despite measuring 19ft in length, weighing 3.85 tons.

Mercedes claims the 6x6 - which has 37 inch wheels - can negotiate rocky terrain with 'all the agility of a mountain goat', while fording a river is 'almost child's play'.

They add: 'Anyone exploring the on-road performance is certain to be impressed by the catapult-like acceleration of this 3.85-tonne pickup.'

However, the 6x6 comes with a massive £350,000 price-tag - making it the most expensive model in the Mercedes range and three-times as pricey as a typical G Wagon.

The off-roader, which is likely to be most popular in the Middle-East, will be limited to around 30 sales per year.

The new model is not the first six-wheel off-roader from the German firm, with Hitler owning eight during the Third Reich. 

The G4 was a heavy-duty off-road car Mercedes produced for the German army between 1934 and 1939. 

Mercedes built 57 G4s during this period with heads of state and top military brass regarding them as a 'prestige all-terrain vehicle'.

Rare: It is understood there are just three G4 models in existence which are absolutely authentic although other models have been rebuilt

Hitler was a huge fan and had eight of the six-wheeled cars, with a number located at his various castles around Germany. 

However, unlike the new Mercedes G63 AMG, the G4 wasn't six-wheel drive with power only sent to the rear four wheels. 

It is understood there are just three models in existence which are absolutely authentic although other models have been rebuilt. One of these models is owned by the Spanish royal family after Hitler gave it to General Franco in 1939.

2012 Mercedes G-Class

The Mercedes G-Class has been updated, with the flagship AMG version being given the latest engine from the performance division. 

On the outside, the rugged off-roader, which is hand-built in Graz, Austria, has new LED daytime running lights up front, plus redesigned mirrors, bumpers and grille. 

Inside, there’s a new centre console and instrument panel that now houses a TFT colour display. There’s an additional screen from the COMAND and DVD systems, which integrate the sat-nav and Internet access, both of which are standard across the range. 

There are four models in the line-up, but only two will be sold in the UK. The British range starts with the G350 BlueTec. It uses the same 3.0-litre V6 and seven-speed automatic gearbox, so power and torque unchanged at 211hp and 540Nm from 1,600rpm. Combined fuel economy remains the same too, returning 25.2mpg and 295g/km of CO2.

The flagship G55 AMG has been replaced by the G63 AMG. Under the bonnet is the 5.5-litre twin-turbo V8 from the CLS 63 AMG, and it marks the first time in a while since the G-Class has used the same engine as the CLS 63 AMG. 

The new engine means power is up from 507bhp to 544bhp, and there's a mammoth 760Nm of torque on tap from 2,000rpm. Emissions have improved from 372g/km to 322g/km, while fuel consumption of 20.4mpg is up from 17.8mpg. The G63 AMG is fitted as standard with stop/start, while 20-inch alloy wheels and red brake calipers are offered as an option. 

The G-Class range offers the same maximum boot space of 2,250 litres, while hi-tech options such as DISTRONIC PLUS, Blind Spot Assist and PARKTRONIC with reversing camera are all available. The G-Class’s ESP has also been revised to include Trailer Stability Assist and a HOLD function.