The Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen SUV, which has been built for 25 years and is now sold in the
United States as the pricey G500, will finally get replaced. Over the years it has been
sold to the German military, to farmers, and has been used for other off-road purposes.
At
the January 2005 Detroit Auto Show, Mercedes will introduce its replacement, along with two
more models: the new M-Class and the new R-Class. The R-Class, which will be a sporty and
luxurious wagon-van with four-wheel drive, will compete with the likes of Porsche’s
Cayenne, VW’s Touareg, and BMW’s X5.
Power in the next G-Wagen will come from a selection
of two diesels: a 231-hp V-6 and a 300-hp V-8, and two new gasoline V-8 engines: a
4.6-liter engine with 326 hp and a 5.5-liter unit with 408 hp. An AMG version is said to
offer 460 hp. Tow ratings have not been announced.
