2009 Mercedes-Benz G 55 AMG

2009 Mercedes-Benz G 55 AMG SpecificationsEngine

Displacement 5.5 Liters

Engine Type AMG V8
Horsepower 507 hp
Torque 516 lbs-ft.

Exterior

Tires 275/55 R 19
Wheels 19 in 5-Spoke AMG Wheels

Performance

0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) 5.5 sec
Top Speed 130 mph (electronically limited)
Base Price: 2009 Mercedes-Benz G 55 AMG - 121,618 euros (approx. $192,000 USD)

The 2009 G 55 AMG:

Because Hummers are Too Cheap and Too Slow

Mercedes Benz has been offered versions of its G-Class, which was originally designed for use as a military vehicle in several European countries, relatively unchanged since the early 1970s. The 2009 Mercedes Benz G55 AMG, latest in the transformation from off road tank car to Sunset Blvd. cruiser, has more than 500 horsepower on tap and performance times that belay its hefty curb weight, running a 0-60 time in less than 5.5 seconds.

While the G-Class retains its iconic, blocky and strange styling, the car has been thoroughly updated in every way. In the department of G55 AMG cabin technology, there are heated and cooled seats, leather and wood trim appointments throughout. Mercedes Benz has worked for years to perfect its Navigation and human-car relations system, dubbed COMMAND APS. In the 2009 MBZ G55 AMG application, the system features a 6.5 in color screen and a 4 gigabyte onboard hard drive for storing music files and other data.

With all the cushy cabin technology coming to the G55 AMG, one might think that the car has gone soft, and lost its off road roots. If you have the kind of money to be rock crawling in a ridiculously overpowered luxury SUV costing upwards of 120,000 Euros, the 2009 G55 AMG will not disappoint.


[Mercedes Benz Press Release]

Following its most recent makeover, the G 55 AMG from Mercedes-AMG is now even more attractive. Boasting an upgraded performance of 373 kW/507 hp, this offroad classic has also been given a fresh look, incorporating a reworked radiator grille and new 19-inch AMG light-alloy wheels. Inside, the exclusive interior features the latest generation of telematics equipment and optional climatized seats in combination with designo leather upholstery for enhanced passenger comfort.

The inclusion of some of the latest technology has made this classic from the AMG stable fit for the future. Thanks to the integration of a new engine control unit, the performance of the supercharged AMG 5.5-litre V8 engine has been nudged up from 368 kW/500 hp to 373 kW/507 hp, with maximum torque remaining at 700 Nm. Likewise unchanged is the vehicle's effortless performance, with the G 55 AMG accelerating from zero to 100 km/h in 5.5 seconds and peaking at a top speed of 210 km/h (electronically limited).

The upgraded G 55 AMG also features improvements in the areas of safety and comfort. The Electronic Stability Program (ESP®), for example, now boasts a new and more powerful control unit, incorporating a transverse acceleration control to allow more precise recognition of dynamic driving situations and thus provide even better vehicle stability. In addition, the new G 55 AMG now comes with a hill-start assist. A sensor recognizes whenever the off-roader comes to a halt on an ascending gradient. The system instantly memorizes the braking pressure applied and maintains this for a short instant, giving drivers sufficient time to move from the brake to the accelerator pedal without the vehicle rolling backward. The big advantage of this technology is that in most cases it eliminates the need to use the parking brake.


Discreet but effective design modifications

The new G 55 AMG boasts discreet but effective design modifications, including a new radiator grille with three distinctive horizontal bars that are painted the same color as the rest of the body and - exclusive to the AMG top-of-the-range model - also feature chrome inserts. Moving around the vehicle, the highlight of the side view are the new polished 19-inch five-spoke AMG light-alloy wheels painted titanium grey. They are 9.5 inches wide and equipped with 275/55 R 19 tires that impressively bulk out the wheel arches.

Still a standard feature of the AMG body-styling package are the bumpers painted in body color and the characteristic AMG wide fenders. Other features include a brushed-aluminum trim set boasting a distinctive AMG logo and the twin oval chrome tailpipes of the AMG sports exhaust system, emerging from beneath the stainless-steel running boards on either side of the vehicle - an unmistakable sign of the power of the supercharged AMG 5.5-litre V8 engine.


New COMAND APS and designo leather upholstery fitted as standard

The G 55 AMG also underscores its exclusive character with designo leather upholstery, which is standard and now features a new silver-colored designo emblem on the front backrests. The seats are color-coordinated with the designo decorative wood trim as well as the wood/leather steering wheel and the redesigned wood/leather selector lever bearing a G 55 logo. Also new is the interior roof lining made of anthracite Alcantara. Helping to enhance passenger comfort, particularly in the summer months, are the new climatized seats, which are available for the first time with this model.

Drivers of the new G 55 AMG will also benefit from the latest generation of telematics equipment developed by Mercedes. The standard equipment COMAND APS system boasts a high-definition 6.5-inch color display, rapid HDD navigation with aerial view, LINGUATRONIC for controlling audio, navigation and phone systems, a 4 GB memory for music files, and a slot for SD memory cards. Also available as an option is a DVD changer and a universal interface for plugging in USB sticks, iPods, or other external audio devices.

The G 55 AMG is only available as a long-wheelbase station wagon with five doors. The vehicle will be available from September 2008 at a price of 121,618 euros (incl. 19 percent sales tax).