VICTORIA: Mercedes-Benz has launched the G500 4×4² following a preview earlier this week. It was the four-wheeled brother of the Mercedes G63 AMG 6×6 and will debut in near production form at the Geneva Motor Show in March.
The crossover features an AMG front bumper, carbon fiber flares and a roof-mounted LED light bar, has a stainless steel underbody guards, a side exiting exhaust and 22-inch wheels with off-road tires.
Riding on new 22-inch rims wrapped in 325/55 rubber or optionally, special off-road 18-inch beadlock wheels, the G500 4×4² boasts an improved approach angle of 52 degrees and departure angle of 54 degrees.
The German company decline to release interior pictures of Mercedes G500 4×4² but confirmed the model has design leather seats with diamond quilted DINAMICA accents.
The G500 4×4² also comes with new are the dual strut spring and adjustable damper units, with the driver being able to choose between Comfort and Sport modes through a button on the center console. Mercedes says one spring/damper strut works conventionally with set damper characteristics, while the other has electronically controlled adjustable damping that can be changed from Comfort to Sport in just 15 milliseconds.
Thanks to the use of the special portal axles in which the axle tube is above the center of the wheel hub, the ground clearance on the G500 4×4² rises to an amazing 450mm (17.7 in) compared to the regular model’s 210mm (8.3 in), and the driving or fording depth to 1 meter (39.4 inches). Elsewhere on the chassis, both the front and rear tracks have been increased by 299mm (11.8 in).
Whether and when the decision on series production of the Mercedes G500 4×4² will be made depends on the reaction which the near-series show car receives.