2012 Mercedes-Benz G 65 AMG 6.0L V12 7AT (612 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Placing a biturbo V12 engine under the hood of a G-Class might have sounded too bold for 2012, but Mercedes-Benz did it and made its customers happy when it introduced the G 65 AMG.

When Mercedes-Benz designed the first generation of the G-Class in the ’70s, it made it to be suitable as a utilitarian or an army vehicle. Over time, people loved this shed shape and started to use it in and around towns. They barely saw any rough terrain other than potholes or some curbs, but they saw a lot of streets. But the G-Class had two major issues: it was heavy and underpowered. While the former one couldn’t be solved since the SUV was a body-on-frame construction, the latter was easier to do. At first, it introduced larger V8 engines that replaced the older four-banger ones. When that was not enough, the automaker employed AMG to add superchargers to them. But when other customers with deep pockets complained again, they changed the recipe and gave them the 2012 G 65 AMG, a biturbo V12 beast that could rip off tarmac from the streets thanks to its huge torque.

With a front fascia that looked carried over from a bus, the 2012 G 65 had a menacing look. Its round headlights featured Xenon brights that made it look modern. Furthermore, the automaker underlined them with LED bars for the daytime running lights. But still, the turn signal lamps were left in the same position as those from the 1979 model year, above the front fenders. They even had exposed mounting screws. The lower bumper tried to sweeten the deal with a somewhat rounded shape, albeit it sported a rectangular center air intake flanked by a pair of squared scoops, all covered by a mesh.

From its profile, the tall and squared-looking vehicle sported new plastic moldings around the front and rear wheel arches. They were visually connected via the chromed metallic side steps. The behemoth vehicle sat on large 20-inch light-alloy wheels finished in titanium-gray or matte-black, depending on the options. Mercedes-Benz also improved the look of the door mirror caps by adding V-shaped turn signals inspired by those from the E-Class. A particular detail revealed the vehicle’s connection to the AMG family due to the twin side exhausts that peaked under the bodywork in front of the rear wheels. Finally, at the back, the car sported LED taillights on the lower side, while above the side-hinged door, it featured a reversing camera.

The leather-wrapped interior and luxurious ambiance justified in part the SUV’s six-figure price tag. In addition, Mercedes-Benz created a new dashboard that featured a redesigned center stack that supported the seven-inch screen for the infotainment system atop it. Fronting the driver was a fresh instrument panel with individual clusters for the speedometer and tachometer. Between them, the automaker installed a TFT color display that showed data from the car’s onboard computer.

Under the hood, AMG found a way to drop a 6.0-liter V12 engine, which, helped by two turbochargers, produced 612 PS (603 hp). Furthermore, the 1001 Nm (738 lb-ft) of torque was already in the 18-wheeler category. To send all the oomph to the wheels, Mercedes-AMG installed a seven-speed SPEEDSHIFT automatic gearbox, a two-speed transfer box, and three manually locking differentials. Unfortunately, like the 1979 G-Class W460, the 2012 G 65 AMG sat on solid axles on both ends, which was not the best solution for comfort.