2013 Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG 6×6 5.5 V8 7AT 6×6 (544 HP)

Vehicle Overview

When the regular G-Class 4×4 fitted with a powerful AMG engine was not enough for some tastes, then there was the G63 AMG 6×6 to get, albeit with a seven-figure price.

Over the years, the G-Class evolved from the status of a mundane, utilitarian vehicle to a luxury vehicle. Even though by 2013, it was no longer considered such a mundane vehicle, underneath its body-on-frame construction, it still relied on solid axles. Regardless of the grade, all G-Classes featured three locking differentials and the ability to rock-crawl all day long. But then, there was this vehicle: the G63 AMG 6×6, which came with a much longer chassis and an extra axle on its back to support the tall and hefty vehicle. In some countries, customers had to have commercial driving licenses to use it on public roads. But the G63 AMG 6×6 didn’t need public or paved roads. An open-wide desert, a plain, or a tundra would suit it better.

Right off the bat, the SUV was huge by anyone’s standards. With its almost seven-foot height, sitting on massive 35-inch tires, it dominated most other cars on the road. Its grille sported the double-slat trim from the regular AMG versions of the car, and the same went with the Xenon headlights underlined by LED daytime running lights. But underneath the plastic bumper, there was enough room to crawl, thanks to the 18.1-inch (460 mm) ground clearance.

From its side, the G63 AMG 6×6 impressed not only with its height but also with its length since it was considerably longer than a regular G-Class. The wheelbase between the front and the rearmost axle was 4,196 mm (13.7 ft), which was more than the car’s first-generation overall length in its three-door version! Furthermore, the four-door cabin was slightly extended behind the rear doors to make room for the seats. Then, behind it, the automaker added a bed. Another unique aspect of the vehicle was its 18-inch beadlock alloy wheels wrapped in wide boots. The rear fenders featured an extended cut that covered both wheels underneath it, with an additional molding that covered the tires.

Mercedes-Benz worked hard to create a luxurious, S-Class-level interior for the supersized SUV. Customers could get the vehicle with a two-ton leather upholstery and in a four or five-seat configuration. Fronting the driver was an instrument panel carried over from the G63 AMG, with individual clusters for the speedometer and tachometer and a TFT color display between them. Atop the center stack, the automaker installed a touchscreen for the COMAND infotainment system. The three buttons for locking the differentials and axles were in the same spot, but they controlled five differentials, not just three.

Under its rugged skin, the SUV featured a biturbo 5.5-liter V8 engine. It was paired to a seven-speed automatic gearbox that sent the torque to the wheels via a two-speed transfer box. Unlike the rest of the G-Class range, the G 63 AMG 6×6 sat on three portal axles, which helped it reach almost double the ground clearance of its stablemates. In addition, it could go through three feet (one meter) of water without any trouble. Furthermore, thanks to the adjustable inflating system for the wheels, the car’s heavy weight was distributed to match the pressure of a person’s foot on the ground.