Latest news with #G-class
Hypebeast
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- Hypebeast
2025 Mercedes-AMG G 63: Understanding the Cult of GELÄNDEWAGEN
There are very few cars on the market that have an indestructible image to it, one so strong that a cult following builds and lives on for generations. TheG-Wagonis one of those vehicles. We recently got our hands on a 2025Mercedes-AMG G 63for a week long review. We are more than familiar with the exterior appeal of it, its timeless style, and the history of its origins as a military transport. We could examine it on the freeways of OC, the streets of LA and even a bit of off-road dirt track till the cows come home. What we can't do however is act like we've ever owned one, or express the feeling of being part of a cult following for one. Because of this, we asked a few of our friends who currently or previously owned one to focus on three core aspects of G-Wagon ownership: the design, the functionality, and the drive. They guided this review, and we responded on what our experience of the 2025 iteration felt like based on their direction. Is the new one just a modern remake of what made the G-class so great, or is it a far cry from the original? 'The G-Wagon's boxy design has become the signature element of the G-Class. The design to me prioritizes utility and space over aerodynamics.'–Tim Mar, Social Media Manager at Hoonigan, 2000 Mercedes-Benz G 500. This is perhaps the most obvious reason most consumers turn to the G-Wagon – its charm is undeniable, its style is legendary, and its shape is forever cemented into the minds of the automotive world. Has this changed with the W465? Largely: no. The 2025 Mercedes-AMG G 63 still holds the boxy shape, angular fenders, militant design cues and back-to-basics layout of lights and signals. Nothing truly different from the earlier iterations thankfully, however everything is noticeably larger and stouter. Its square stature is thanks to a width and height that's proportionally the same: roughly 6 and a half feet both wide and high. Its length however is what's a decent departure from its earlier siblings – the 2025 model with its spare tire container at the rear measure just over 16 feet long, nearly a full foot longer than the W461 that Tim owns. This translates not only onto the road, but inside as well, however occupants during our review period stated the extra foot wasn't completely apparent within the cabin. As time goes by, exterior design elements also give way to a bigger, more expansive look for the Geländewagen, such as the now-20' wheels, the extra-large diameter quad side exhaust pipes, a gaping front fascia grille and others. Overall however, we're happy to report the design has not been sacrificed with the current Gs. What you know and love – the G-Wagon's visual identity – is intact. 'I use mine as my daily for work and coffee runs; super functional, lots of space in the back for my camera equipment. I plan on bringing it on off-road adventures – it's an off-road king after all.'–Nick Sims, professional videographer, 2003 Mercedes-Benz G55 AMG. We wanted to tackle what the G-Wagon was built for – utility. Our friends unanimously agreed they purchased their second hand G-classes when they needed its hauling potential, having met their matches in their sports cars and sedans years ago. Again, thankfully, the 2025 G 63 didn't disappoint… for the most part. Seating for four is plenty, and all occupants thereafter would be in luxurious comfort with heated seats, separate controls and even massagers up front. The rear tailgate trunk while allowing for a decent amount of stowage in the form of groceries and luggage comes in the form of a tall vertical capacity rather than something truly boxy. Chalk this up to seat configuration and the G-class's inherit box aesthetic. No worries – fold the rear seats down (unfortunately they don't go fully flat) and you'll have almost 70 cubic feet of storage. Also don't take for granted how creative you can get with your misshaped cargo, as the square shape of the car will allow for skis, golf bags, even hockey sticks etc. – anything can fit so as long as your front occupants don't mind a bit of contorting. Our friend was even able to transport his an entire Harvey Probber loveseat with ease, once it was realistically cut in half. Two for two – you can still convince your domestic partner that the G-class still excels to pick up the kids from soccer practice. But from here, things start to change for the new one. 'The best way to describe the drive: it was originally a military vehicle. From the steel door latches to the front passenger grab bar, everything exudes ruggedness. You hear and feel every bit of the road. That's exactly what you sign up for, and I absolutely love it.'–Nick Sisombath, founder of Collegium, 2004 Mercedes-Benz G55 AMG. Let's address the elephant in the room – the 2025 AMG G 63 is officially hybrid. Its 4.0L twin-turbo V8 is assisted with a 48-volt electric motor. This means the G 63 is granted a total of 577 horsepower and a whopping 627 lb-ft of torque – the mild hybrid system is in aid of performance, not efficiency. Our friends claimed that they prized the G-class's naturally-aspirated engines, preferring purity over supercharging. So what does that say about something as 'new-aged' as a hybrid electric motor, if forced induction is already too much of a compromise? Does it still feel 'military' and raw, or does the luxury and electrification give it a whole new character? The electric motor works with the vehicle's torque delivery at lower RPMs, providing a more immediate and deliberate shove when the foot hits the floor. The system is actually quite stealthy – we had to make mention of the hybridization before anyone even knew, and that's a great thing. Nothing about the system screams EV, and the sound and urgency of a twin-turbo V8 is not lost in the mix. At the end of the day, no one will really care where the division of 577 hp and 627 lb-ft of torque is coming from, and the power still feels fantastic. In terms of ruggedness however, we're sad to say that all of it is gone in this 2025 model. It has nothing to do with our brand new, <2000 mile press car example being in tip-top shape compared to our friends' 20+ year old ones; it's more so that the luxury of a G-Wagon is now more prevalent than ever before. Exceptional leather touch points and extraordinary ride quality is paired with world-class audio, a steering wheel you can turn with one finger,Minority Report-wrapping digital infotainment screen and massaging seats – all of which does not convey 'rugged.' There's always been a stereotype of the G-Wagon, that the only off-road it'll ever do is on the lawn at the equestrian club, and quite frankly the latest models live up to this image. Nevertheless, the 2025 Mercedes-AMG G 63 is still the G we all know, with refinement and an inevitable modernization to its character. Would it deter anyone who wanted a G-class from chasing after one? Not in our mind. If you ignore the engine and refined luxury interior, boxy exterior, everyday functionality and ultra-satisfying bank vault-esque door closures – the things that matter the most are still there, and that's what the cult of GELÄNDEWAGEN is all about.
Business Insider
15-05-2025
- Automotive
- Business Insider
Photos show the Mercedes-Benz electric popemobile worth an estimated $500,000 that Pope Leo XIV may be next to ride
The newest popemobile is a custom Mercedes-Benz G-class electric vehicle. Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius personally delivered the car to Pope Francis in 2024. It features a bulletproof glass canopy, an adjustable back seat for the pope, and white interiors. The day before Pope Francis died, he took one last ride in his popemobile. Pope Leo XIV could be the next to use it. The custom Mercedes-Benz G-class electric vehicle was designed to transport Francis around Vatican City emission-free as part of his commitment to environmental justice. "With this popemobile, we are also sending out a clear call for electromobility and decarbonization," Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius said in a statement in December 2024, when he delivered the car to Pope Francis. Mercedes-Benz has a long history of providing cars for the papacy, dating back to a Nürburg 460 Pullman Saloon for Pope Pius XI in 1930. Take a look at the most recent version of the popemobile. Mercedes-Benz designed its first-ever electric popemobile for sustainable, emission-free travel in Vatican City. The Mercedes-Benz CEO personally delivered the new popemobile to Francis in December. Källenius and other Mercedes-Benz employees who were involved in developing and producing the vehicle also received a private audience with the then-pope. The vehicle took about one year to manufacture and cost an estimated $500,000. The open-top G580 features four motors optimized for driving slowly through large crowds for public appearances. The car's exterior and interior are furnished in white, the color traditionally worn by the pope. The dashboard features a digital display. The back of the popemobile features red carpeting and white seating for the pope and other passengers. The license plate reads SCV 1, which stands for "Stato della Città del Vaticano" or "State of Vatican City." The car also flies the yellow and white flags of Vatican City. On some trips, the popemobile includes a bulletproof glass canopy. The sides of the popemobile remain open, allowing the pope to greet members of the public and offer blessings. Francis rode in the popemobile on Easter Sunday, one day before he died.
Sharjah 24
03-05-2025
- Sharjah 24
German police rule out attack after car kills one in Stuttgart
Increased security measures in Germany German security services have been on high alert following several deadly car-ramming attacks in recent months, including incidents in the eastern city of Magdeburg and the southern city of Munich. Police investigation in Stuttgart Police in Stuttgart, however, stated on their X account that "based on our current investigations... our colleagues at the scene believe this was a tragic accident." The incident occurred in the central Olgaeck district and resulted in "eight injured, including three seriously hurt." Casualty report Tragically, one of those seriously hurt, a 46-year-old woman, later died in the hospital from her injuries. A police spokeswoman reported that "at around 5:50 pm a black G-class Mercedes drove into a group of people," and the driver was subsequently arrested. Traffic disruptions and scene details Authorities warned the public to avoid Stuttgart city center due to traffic disruptions. Images from the scene showed a mangled pushchair, with witnesses stating that a woman with a pushchair was among those hit by the car.
News.com.au
01-05-2025
- News.com.au
‘Worst idea': Grim texts before the shooting murder of Yusuf Nazlioglu
A man allegedly gunned down after he stole two luxury cars from a Sydney business told a friend the theft was the 'worst idea' on the day he died, a court has heard. Yusuf Nazlioglu was shot dead as he exited one of the vehicles in a basement carpark in Rhodes on June 27, 2022, when a hooded man opened fire. The jury presiding in the NSW Supreme Court trial of three men charged with his murder have been told the failure to return two Mercedes Mr Nazlioglu had hired may provide 'some explanation and motive' for the shooting. Last week, the jury was shown messages Mr Nazlioglu sent an associate on the encrypted app Threema in the lead up to his death. Those messages, the court heard, were found on a phone examined by police on June 28, 2022 – with a screenshot showing the texts were sent 'yesterday'. In the messages, the 40-year-old discussed the stolen Mercedes with an associate who mentioned falling out with 'mates' over the incident. 'These two cars was dumb idea,' the associate wrote. Mr Nazlioglu agreed, saying it was 'the worst idea lol especially when there is money owed' before revealing he had been 'very emotional' recently. 'Sometimes I don't want to be around no more,' he wrote. Mr Nazlioglu said his wife Jade Jeske, known as Jade Heffer at the time, had said it 'was the worst idea and the worst plan and I agreed with her'. Both men said they looked like 'dirty c***s' among their associates, who Mr Nazlioglu thought 'loved me and had a lot of respect for me' before what he called a 'straight rip'. He also said another person, involved in the scheme, 'pretended to be me' on the phone and told someone chasing the vehicles 'you not getting the cars back'. 'We should not of agreed to do it brother its (sic) a s*** go especially to mates,' the associate replied. Mr Nazlioglu, who the court heard was acquitted Comanchero boss Mick Hawi's 2018 murder, was shot eight times at his Walker St apartment block. The court has been shown crime scene images of a black Mercedes E-class allegedly at the centre of his death riddled with bullet holes. It was hired alongside a white G-class from a western Sydney business on May 17 and 18, 2022 respectively with the help of his wife. Earlier in the trial, the jury was shown CCTV footage of hooded and masked men entering the carpark and taking back the car on May 23. Then, on May 26, CCTV captured Mr Nazlioglu stealing it again after its owner parked the vehicle on Castlereagh St in the CBD. Crown Prosecutor Eric Balodis said Ms Jeske had noticed the black Mercedes while its owner was streaming live on TikTok from the location. Mr Nazlioglu, who still had the key, was later caught on camera unlocking the E-class and driving away from the scene. The men on trial – Abdulrahman Atteya, Mohammed Hosni Khaled and Mohammed Baltagi – have pleaded not guilty and deny any part in the shooting. The Crown alleges that although they held no personal animosity toward Mr Nazlioglu, they were acting for unknown persons. Mr Atteya is accused of being one of two men who lay in wait inside a Volkswagen Golf for Mr Nazlioglu at the carpark on the night he died. He is accused of being either the shooter or the getaway co-accused denies allegations that they helped in preparing getaway vehicles. Mr Atteya's barrister, David Dalton SC, told the jury his client was not involved at any stage and that Mr Nazlioglu had several enemies. 'Mr Nazlioglu had only been released (from prison) for some couple of months before he was in fact killed himself and there will be evidence, that as far as he was concerned, a number of people wanted to kill him.' The trial before Justice Deborah Sweeney continues.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
No V-8, No Problem: 2025 Mercedes-Benz G550 Tested
The back seat is tiny, and the price tag is large. When you drive at night, strange reflections of oncoming traffic play havoc across the flat-windowed interior. The electric version handles better. Only the AMG G63 gets a V-8. There are lots of reasons to dislike the 2025 Mercedes-Benz G550, but it would take a pettier soul than ours to do so. The Mercedes glam box manages to make the most mundane errands feel like red-carpet arrivals, and for that we can't stay mad at it. The G-wagen remains slab-sided and tall for 2025 but boasts an extra-toothy grille, reshaped front and rear bumpers and A-pillars, and a kick-up spoiler on the roof. Visually these changes are small, but Mercedes says they help direct air over the top of the G-class and around the sides for a quieter, more efficient ride. We averaged 16 mpg on our recent drive, proving there's only so much efficiency a rolling shipping container can muster (the EPA quotes it at 18 mpg combined). If you want to skip the pump altogether, there's always the electric G580. We can vouch for the latest G550's hushed ride, as there's only 67 decibels of noise inside at 70 mph, and any wind and road roar can be easily drowned out by the Burmester audio system. The new model year's move from twin-turbo V-8 motivation to a 48-volt-assisted inline-six is big news in G-wagen circles. Considering the G550's native habitat is expensive grocery store parking lots and Wilshire Boulevard gridlock, the topic of engine choice seems barely relevant; it doesn't take much horsepower to pull up to the valet at the Beverly Wilshire on Rodeo Drive, but part of the G's appeal has always been its capable underpinnings, a blue-collar tool kit hidden in the designer briefcase. Not to fear, because while the new turbocharged and supercharged 3.0-liter six lacks the bass vibrato of the V-8, it still has a decent burble and, more importantly, produces 443 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque, which is enough scoot to get the G550 through the quarter-mile in 13.6 seconds at 101 mph. Reaching 60 mph takes 5.0 seconds, which is a smidge quicker than the previous V-8 version, despite the new model having 37 fewer pound-feet of torque. Of course, what the test track can't showcase is the G550's intimidation factor. It may not be the quickest vehicle in a freeway-merging matchup, but when you floor it and the nine-speed automatic drops a few gears and your victim sees that big brick accelerating in their rearview, they tend to drop back out of fear, or respect. We'll take either one. But the G550 doesn't automatically win everyone over. During testing, technical editor Dan Edmunds was unimpressed, especially on the skidpad where the G550 managed only a stability-control-inhibited 0.63 g with moderate understeer, while its electric sibling beat it soundly by pulling 0.80 g. At least the G550 stops similarly well, coming to a halt from 70 mph in a relatively trim 165 feet to the G580 EV's 162 feet. But we'll counter by saying there's no need to hustle about when you're enjoying a heated-stone massage and pondering the mood lighting you need for that evening's outing. If you want a canyon-carving SUV, there are several other German offerings that specialize in that. The G-wagen is for stately maneuvering in comfort, traversing unpaved hunting-lodge driveways in comfort, and towing showy boats—up to 7000 pounds' worth—in comfort. And comfortable it is. Opening the door is like unlocking a safe full of valuables, both in the vacuum-releasing click of entry and the rich smell of leather and wood that greets you when you climb inside. Our test car had the classic pairing of a dark foresty green exterior with a toasty saddle-tan leather interior full of quilted panels and silvered dark wood accents. The steering wheel is a delight, wrapped in leather so soft it's almost silk and better laid out than what's in Mercedes-Benz's sedans. Even though it uses the same touch-sensitive controls of other models, they are not so prone to accidental engagement. Seating is high up and throne-like, with a large menu of heating, cooling, and adjustment elements. We had several friends pop inside just to take advantage of the massage feature, even when we weren't going anywhere—but not all at once, because while the front seats are truly royal accommodations, the rear seats are surprisingly stingy on legroom. When combined with the optional rear-seat entertainment system ($2990), the second row becomes downright unpleasant. Anyone planning to use the G550 as a family hauler best check their car-seat measurements before clicking that option box. Carefully considering options is important, as it's easy to raise the G550's already elevated $149,400 starting price into AMG G63 territory. Ash wood trim, leather grab handles, AMG Line dress-up options, nappa leather upholstery, those magnificent massaging seats, and many other personalizations brought our test car up to $182,240. Which brings us back to our initial thoughts on G-wagens. Mercedes managed to make a formerly bare-bones military transport truck into an envy-inspiring luxury cruiser, and even knowing that the magic trick has been done, we remain enthralled. The G-class isn't the best choice for large families, and it's not the most efficient choice for solo driving, but it remains unrivaled as a fashion statement. The hefty cargo area and sturdy all-wheel-drive chassis offer enough capability to argue that a G-wagen isn't just trendy, it's sensible. Who can be mad about that? You Might Also Like Car and Driver's 10 Best Cars through the Decades How to Buy or Lease a New Car Lightning Lap Legends: Chevrolet Camaro vs. Ford Mustang!
