Hi Automania..
the latest news from the world automotive company, namely Mercedes which will release a new type of vehicle, namely Mercedes G400d.
It’s rumoured that Mercedes will preview an all-electric G-Class with an EQG concept at the upcoming Munich Motor Show, but that won’t detract from the appeal of a combustion-engined G-Class for many.
When Mercedes redesigned its icon in 2018 it launched with V8 power in range topping G 63 AMG trim. However, it’s now added another fuel choice to the line-up before it goes electric with a less glitzy and more affordable G 400 d diesel model – and it’s brilliant.
More affordable is a relative term when talking about the G-Class of course, because this top-spec AMG Line Premium Plus car comes in at £116,065; even the base G 400 d costs from £101,565.
The 400 d tag signifies Mercedes’ 3.0-litre straight-six turbodiesel unit producing 325bhp and a big swell of torque, at 700Nm. However, the G weighs in at 2,489kg, so it does need those kind of figures.
It’s still swift, with 0-62mph taking 6.4 seconds, which seems faster than it is when you’re on the move given the G 400’s dimensions. It towers above even conventionally large SUVs such as Range Rovers; this is a car that has masses of road presence, which is why the G-Class is loved by so many, why it sits as a halo model alongside the S-Class (and now the EQS), and why it’s such a feel-good machine.
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The performance it delivers is more than adequate, with that huge torque output kicking in from just 1,200rpm, which means the big SUV lollops along effortlessly, shifting creamily up through its nine gears with a muted but muscular rumble from the engine.
It doesn’t quite have the personality of the G 63, but then some might find this engine suits the G better than the V8 as you hardly have to rev it – and it’s beautifully refined.
It’s mostly relaxing as a result, with only the slight shimmying ride the main drawback. It’s a problem that afflicts the G 63 too and is partly down to its size and construction, but these factors also mean that the G-Class offers incredible off-road performance, with three locking differentials to help progress away from the tarmac. That huge torque output ensures a sizeable 3,500kg towing capacity too.
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Sometimes the big Mercedes feels a little obese in how it tackles bumps and turns corners, the chassis struggling to smooth out the worst lesions in the road and the slow steering meaning you have to crank more lock on than you might initially expect.
But it’s a set-up choice from the German brand that packs the car with character and, once you’re quickly used to it, becomes a defining positive trait in many ways, rather than a drawback; it certainly gives more stability at higher speed.
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