Mercedes-Benz secured military contracts for the vehicle in the late 1970s and offered a civilian version in 1979. A major reason to start development was the need of the German Army for a light military vehicle. Without any joint test the cheaper Volkswagen Iltis were chosen, but since 1990 it is replaced by the G-Class "Wolf" and LAPV Enok. After a design change to a civilian cross-country vehicle in co-operation with the Austrian car manufacturer Steyr-Daimler-Puch, production of the G-Class began in 1979 with the 460 Series models. The G-Class has been sold under the Puch name in certain markets, and the Peugeot P4 is a variant made under license, with a Peugeot engine and different parts.Despite the introduction of an intended replacement, the unibody crossover SUV Mercedes-Benz GL-Class in 2006, the G-Class is still produced and is expected to continue in production until 2015.
History
The G-Wagen was developed by Steyr-Daimler-Puch and first offered for sale in 1979 and redesigned in 1990/1991. A new version was expected for 2007, but the new GL-Class will not replace the G-Wagen, and it will continue to be hand-built in Graz, Austria at an annual production of 4,000 to 6,000 units. In February 2009, Magna Steyr, an operating unit of Magna International, announced that it signed an agreement with Daimler AG to extend the production of the Mercedes-Benz G-Class at Magna Steyr in Graz, Austria until 2015. Besides the production, the further development of the G-Class by Mercedes-Benz is also located in Graz since 1992.W460
The original W460 G-Wagen went on sale for civilian buyers in the model year 1979. It was offered with two wheelbases, a short wheel base (SWB) of 2400 mm and a long one (LWB) of 2850 mm. One could choose between three body styles: A 2-door SWB convertible, a 2-door SWB wagon and a LWB 4-door wagon. The two wagons were also available as windowless 2-door Van (or 'Kastenwagen' in German).During the G-wagen's impressive life span many a different body style was made for army and public-service clients, like the Popemobile, the pickup or the chassis/cab with a wheel base of 2850, 3120 or 3400 mm, the chassis/cab being the base vehicle for army-ambulances or communication vehicles. Because of the sheer variety of military versions, this article focuses on the more standardized civilian G-Wagen.
The W460 was popular with military and off-road enthusiasts, with more than 50,000 built in the first decade. Mercedes-Benz initially did not sell the model in the United States, but by means of "casual importation" grey-market in the mid-1980s, importers sold some G-Wagens which had been modified to meet the specifications by the US DOT, at about $135,000.
W461
The production of the W460 ended in August 1991. It was replaced by the all but identical W461. Initially, choices of engine were limited to the four-cylinder 230GE petrol and five-cylinder 290GD diesel engine. The W460 'cabrio' version was omitted. In 1997, the W461 sported a slightly updated interior with better seats, changed door panels, and an updated dash. The W461 became available only as 290GD turbo diesel with four-speed automatic transmission. The petrol engine was dropped. Disc brakes all around became standard, and the bell-housing of the front axle was changed to accommodate larger reduction gears. The exterior and other mechanics changed little, not even the model badge which kept indicating 290GD.The main technical difference between the W460/461 and W463 model, apart from the choice of engines, gearboxes and heavy-duty suspension, is the layout of the drive train. While the W463 offers full-time 4WD, the W460/461 is basically rear wheel drive with manual 4WD(ie part time 4WD). These models did not have a center differential and thus no center differential locks. Only front and rear locking differentials are needed to obtain a fully locked drive train. The front lockers were not fitted as standard, but as a factory-fitted option. The differential locks are manually operated with hydraulic levers next to the transfer case selector handle.
Other differences between W460/461 and W463 models are mainly cosmetic.
W463
The chassis was revised for 1990 as the W463 with anti-lock brakes, full-time 4WD and a full trio of electronically-locking differentials. The interior was totally upgraded, finished with wooden accents and optional leather upholstery.The range was refreshed again in 1997, including the introduction of a power-topped convertible and two new engines, the 2.9 L Turbo Diesel and the V6-powered (M112 motor) G320 — previous years' G320s were outfitted with the M104 I6. The V8 G-wagen returned with a new engine in 1998 as the G500, with official sales beginning in the United States in 2002 at $75,000. The 349 hp (260 kW) G55 AMG cemented the vehicle in the American market with many snapped up by celebrities.
Models
W460
- 200 GE — M102E20 2.0 L I4 118 hp (87 kW), (only sold in Italy)
- 230 G — M115 2.3 L I4, 102 hp (75 kW), 127 ft·lbf (172 N·m/3000 rpm)
- 230 GE — M102E23 2.3 L I4, 125 hp (92 kW), 141 ft·lbf (192 N·m/4000 rpm)
- 280 GE — M110E 2.8 L I6, 156 hp (115 kW), 166 ft·lbf (226 N·m/4250 rpm)
- 240 GD — OM616 2.4 L Diesel I4, 72 hp (53 kW), 101 ft·lbf (137 N·m/2400 rpm)
- 250 GD — OM602 2.5 L Diesel I5, 84 hp (62 kW), 113 ft·lbf (154 N·m/2800 rpm)
- 300 GD — OM617 3.0 L Diesel I5, 88 hp (65 kW), 126 ft·lbf (172 N·m/2400 rpm)
W461
- 230 GE — M102E23 2.3 L I4, 125 hp (92 kW), 140 ft·lbf (192 N·m/4000 rpm)
- 290 GD — OM602D29 2.9 L Diesel I5, 95 hp (71 kW)
- 290 GD TD — OM602DLA29 2.9 L Diesel I5 (turbocharged), 92 kW (123 hp)
Worker/Professional/Greenline
- G 270 CDI — OM612 2.7 L Diesel I5 (turbocharged), 156 hp (115 kW), 294 ft·lbf (400 Nm)
- G 280 CDI — OM642 3.0 L Diesel V6, 183 hp (135 kW), 294 ft·lbf (400 Nm) (manufactured in both 4x4 and 6x6)
- G 300 CDI — OM642 3.0 L Diesel V6, 183 hp (135 kW), 294 ft·lbf (400 Nm)
W463
- 200 GE — M102E20 2.0 L I4 (only sold in Italy)- later rebadged G 200
- 230 GE — M102E23 2.3 L I4, 125 hp (92 kW), 140 ft·lbf (192 N·m/4000 rpm)- later rebadged G 230
- 300 GE — M103 3.0 L I6 - later rebadged G 300, 168 hp (125 kW/5000 rpm), 173 ft·lbf (235 N·m/4500 rpm)
- 250 GD — OM602 2.5 L Diesel I5, 94 hp (69 kW), 116 ft·lbf (158 N·m/2600 rpm)
- 300 GD — OM603 3.0 L Diesel I6 - later rebadged G 300 Diesel, 111 hp (83 kW/4600 rpm), 141 ft·lbf (191 N·m/2700-2900 rpm)
- 350 GD Turbodiesel — OM603D35A 3.5 L Diesel I6 (turbocharged), 136 hp (100 kW), 244 ft·lbf (330 N·m)- later rebadged G 350 Turbodiesel
- 500 GE — M117 5.0 L V8, 236 hp (174 kW)
- 500 GE 6.0 AMG — M117E60 6.0 L V8, 331 hp (243 kW)
- G 320 — M104 3.2 L I6, 217 hp (161 kW), 229 ft·lbf (310 N·m)
- G 36 AMG — M104E36 3.6 L I6, 272 hp (200 kW)
- G 300 Turbodiesel — OM606D30LA 3.0 L Diesel I6 (turbocharged), 177 hp (130 kW/4400rpm), 244 ft·lbf (330 N·m/1600-3600rpm)
- G 320 — M112 3.2 L V6, 215 hp (158 kW), 221 ft·lbf (300 N·m/2800-4800rpm)
- G 500 — M113E50 5.0 L V8, 296 hp (218 kW), 336 ft·lbf (456 Nm)
- G 55 AMG 1998–2004 — 32V 5.5 L V8, 382 hp (285 kW)
- G 63 AMG — V12 N/A, 444 hp (326 kW), (620 N·m/4400 rpm) (only 12 ever built)
- G 270 CDI — OM612 2.7 L Diesel I5 (turbocharged), 156 hp (115 kW), 294 ft·lbf (400 Nm)
- G 400 CDI — OM628 4.0 L Diesel V8 (turbocharged), 250 hp (184 kW), 411 ft·lbf (560 N·m)
- G 320 CDI — OM642 3.0 L Diesel V6, 224 hp (165 kW), 397 ft·lbf (540 Nm)
- G 55 Kompressor AMG 2005–today — M113E55 5.5 L V8 supercharged, 507 hp (373 kW), 514 ft·lbf (700 N·m)
Mercedes-Benz GL-Class (SUV)
The Mercedes-Benz GL-Class (code name X164) is a full-size crossover SUV built by the German carmaker Mercedes-Benz since 2006. The GL-Class debuted at the 2006 North American International Auto Show. The car was designed for the American market, which is shown by its large size, making it the only similarly-sized rival up against Audi's Q7 by that time. It is the 7-passenger counterpart of the Mercedes-Benz M-Class. Although the car was designed for the US market, it is also sold in Europe, albeit in far fewer numbers.
Engines
- GL 350 CDI BlueTec: 3.0 L V6 (diesel), 160 kW (215 hp)
- GL 420 CDI: 4.0 L V8 (diesel), 225 kW (302 hp)
- GL 450: 4.7 L V8, 250 kW (335 hp)
- GL 550 (GL 500 in Europe): 5.5 L V8, 285 kW (382 hp)
Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class (SUV)
The Mercedes-Benz GLK (code name X204; Geländewagen Luxus Kompaktklasse) is a compact luxury crossover released as a 2009 model elsewhere and as a 2010 model in North America after its public debut at the 2008 Beijing Auto Show alongside the competing Audi Q5.The GLK-Class was launched in 2008 and is built in Bremen (Germany), the first Mercedes SUV to be built there. Its design is heavily influenced by the C-Class.
On 12 January 2008, actress Kim Cattrall at a special unveiling ceremony at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, confirming that her Sex and the City character (Samantha Jones) would drive the SUV in the movie version of the popular TV show.
The GLK was presented for the first time in 2008 in Detroit under the form of the Mercedes-Benz Vision GLK Freeside concept.MBUSA partnered with four tuners to develop custom designs for the newly released GLK for the 2008 SEMA show in Las Vegas. Boulevard Customs, Brabus, RENNtech and Leegendary Motorcar Company were the four tuners that had this unique opportunity to design their vision.
The GLK-Class shares the C-Class (W204) platform, and production plans continued after the demise of the similar Smart Formore.
Engines
- 2.2 L diesel I4 170 PS (125 kW; 168 hp)
- 2996 cc V6 228 hp (171 kW)
- 3498 cc V6 268 hp (201 kW)
- 3.0 L diesel V6 224 PS (165 kW; 221 hp)
