The Box Thinking
We are generally asked to think out of the box! But what if you think and utilise the box itself. Experimenting means lesser success, but there is no harm in trying something new on a tried-and-tested product. Mercedes-Benz did some box thinking, which could be a new term better than out-of-the-box thinking. When the world thought that Mercedes-Benz should now put an end to the Gelandwagen, the Stuttgart-based automaker turned the tables around and showed what can be achieved with the same G, which some called it boxy.
The G55 was quick anyways and its owners wouldn't have asked for more power, except people in AMG who decided to go bonkers, first by making it G63 (replacing a supercharger with two turbos) and then making it with Crazy Colours.
The G-Class has been getting periodic upgrades though. It started as a military vehicle in the 70s, later had a civilian version too and since then has been known and respected around the world for its go-anywhere capabilities and tank like build. If the soft-touch doors are for you, then this isn't the vehicle for you. This rough and super tough vehicle shuts its doors with a solid thunk. The G-Wagen is built rock-solid and you will notice the chrome bull-bar and the AMG exhausts that intrude from underneath the rear doors on both the sides.
Mercedes has recently added another feather in its cap by giving the G-Class an AMG treatment and introducing the G63 AMG, followed by another update, this time cosmetic, called the Crazy Colour Edition. This edition offers three sporty colours, namely the Solar Beam (Yellow) Sunset Beam(Orange) and Alien Green. All this colours are bright and its truly crazy to have them on an SUV which means serious business. We laid our hands on the Alien Green colour and our experience is something which cannot be completely described in words.
The G63 AMG looks different from anything on the road, with its boxy, old-school design. However, the Alien Green colour looks fabulous in real and livelier than what it appears in the pictures. The matte-black five spoke 20-inch alloy wheels and the carbon fibre ORVMs compliment the looks very well. This SUV is big, tall and quite intimidating. Open the door and feels as if you have opened a bank vault, such is the build. The G63 is a ladder frame chassis, hence the cabin is pretty high and even if you are six feet tall, you need to use the footboard as a step to climb in and settle into its superbly contoured seats. The seating provides a commanding position and has excellent all round visibility, except for the rear. The space inside is average.
The interiors are pretty contrasting to the exterior and are very contemporary, just like other Mercedes models. The four spoke steering wheel is fabulous. The layout is simple with a shallow dashboard, as the dimensions of the vehicle do not allow a deep one. It has features like bluetooth, seven-inch screen with navigation and also you can use your phones data to and stream internet radio. There are paddle shifts too. The Crazy Colour edition also gets all-black cabins with colour coded stitching on the dash board and seats and carbon fibre trim.
Once you get on the drive you realise that it is crazier on the inside than outside. Even crazier is the way this vehicle sounds. It starts with a low rumble, like some angry cloud, blip the throttle and it growls, and growls hard. And then, driving at higher revs, on an open road, the roar gets loud enough to scare others. The exhaust note perfectly compliments the butchy looks and the twin exhausts are placed on either sides, below the foot board to give it a beastly feel. Floor the throttle and you reach triple digit speeds within a few seconds, 5.4 to be precise, which is exemplary for this heavyweight locomotive.
The G63 AMG comes with a 5.5-litre, V8 twin-turbo unit that churns out a mammoth 536bhp at 5500rpm and an earth-shattering 760Nm of torque between 2000-5000rpm, to pull this 2.5 tonne tank. The G63 comes with the AMG Speedshift Plus & G-Tronic transmission with an Eco start/stop function and an AMG sports exhaust system. The suspension settings are tuned for dynamic handling, by using optimised bearings for the automatic gearbox, transfer case and engine, cutting vibration and noise levels. It features new LED daytime running lamps placed below the bi-xenon headlamp. It has stainless-steel running boards and side protective strips with stainless-steel inserts.
This SUV has a 220mm ground clearance with 27 degree approach and departure angles and also features three differential locks.The G63 is incredibly fast in a straightline but not the best handling SUV. Its classic retro design limits it to handle as well as the new generation SUVs. The steering feels hard and requires some muscle to operate.The G63 is a hard core utility vehicle by heart and one that can manage conquering terrains what many others can only dream of. This SUV feels at home in off-road conditions. Driving a beast like that, means a lot of body roll and too much weight. But you won't realise a thing when put your foot down. The exhaust note is a loud roar and reminding everyone that this is an AMG, so do not mess with me on or off the road. Because I will beat you on both the terrains.
Buying the G63 AMG would be a 'decision', whether good or bad doesnt matter. With all the stuff it has loaded itself with and the retail price of INR 2.58 crores (on-road, Mumbai), the list of buyers will be limited. Its not just the vehicle, but a heritage that one will own. Anyways you are going to procure something that makes you happy and will get you noticed. We believe this is the SUV one needs to buy if at all you get anything at two and a half crores.
Source : MotorOctane
