The G63 AMG: A Legendary Mercedes Model Put to the Test

It's the latest baddest incarnation of the legendary Mercedes G-Class, the G63 AMG. The G-Class first went on sale in 1979, making it Mercedes' longest-running model. Originally created for the military, the G-Class has stuck with its army chic styling since, which is a kind way of explaining that the car looks like a tank but under the bonnet is a five and a half liter twin-turbo V8 - a "nuclear bunker" that accelerates harder than a Porsche Cayman on paper. This latest version looks like three different cars in one: an all-conquering off-roader, the world's greatest tow car, and an AMG sports beast.

The G63 AMG will be put to the test with three wildly different challenges. First up is the off-road facility test, where Group Captain Plato will find out if the car can translate its 537 brake horsepower into off-road traction. The G-Class has impeccable off-road credentials, having competed in the grueling Paris Dakar Rally Raid in 1983 and being used by no less than 63 different armies across the globe. Off-roading is all about gentle smooth application of power looking for traction all the time. This latest version has got three separate electronic differentials just to make sure that the correct amount of power is sent at each wheel to give it amazing traction. Tess Wan has shown the G-Class to be a very capable, if slightly crude, off-road machine.

Next up is Tetsu's look at the G63 Load Logan ability with 560 pound-feet of torque coupled to AMG's 7g-tronic auto gearbox. This should be the ultimate tow truck. The Caravan is a Genesis I, about eight metres long, weighing just shy of 1.9 tons and about the biggest you're allowed to tow in the UK. When you add the weight of that, you're just short of four and a half tons. This should be good for 1885 90 miles an hour and it feels pretty solid - it's an unnerving feeling, but feels nice moving around and is pretty stable almost effortless. However, just in case your trailer becomes unruly, the G63 has an extra trick: the stability control systems have been specially tuned to counteract any issues with trailers that start a fishtail if it senses the caravan is starting to sway and affect the stability of the car.

Tetsu will also do a nought-to-sixty-two test for all I know when I now will throttle. There's a good chance I might just rip the Caravan's face off - this standalone car gets there in just five point four seconds three two one go defi feel, there's a bit of Giada through the whole chassis. It's fifty miles an hour and it feels pretty solid - just remember to secure any fragile antiques before you slam on the brakes nine point four seconds that's not bad considering this four and a half tonnes. The G63 is proving to be a decent machine for action men who like Caravan holidays.

Finally, Tetsu will do some hot laps of the track to find out if the G63 handles in a sporty way like its AMG badge suggests. Oh, I can't begin to tell you how awful this is - the drive but also how prehistoric the ESB system feels as soon as I see it. That's the brakes, that's an automatic braking system what's all that about? I'll do again, sir, handling and G-Class don't go together; it's horrible with a capital H. So, the G63 AMG toes like a train and can handle the rough stuff, but if you want all that wrapped up in a rewarding Road car then do yourself a favor and buy a top spec Range Rover and you'll save yourself 25 grand - I don't think I've ever said and Mercedes is really horrible to drive but this is Oh God hey.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enit's the latest baddest incarnation of the legendary Mercedes g-class the g63 AMG the g-class first went on sale in 1979 which makes it Mercedes longest-running model it was originally created for the military and has stuck with its army chic styling since which is a kind way of explaining white looks like a tank but under the bonnet is a five and a half liter twin-turbo v8 it's a nuclear bunker that accelerates harder than a Porsche Cayman on paper this looks like three different cars in one an all-conquering off-roader the world's greatest tow car and an AMG sports Beast so I'm gonna put it to the test with three wildly different challenges first group captain Plato reporting for duty the off-road facility test one will find out if the car can translate it's 537 brake horsepower into off-road traction this actually has impeccable off-road credentials here are g-class warm the grueling Perry Dakar Rally Raid in 1983 and G's are used by no less than 63 different armies across the globe you know off-roading is all about gentle smooth application of power looking for traction all the time this latest version has got three separate electronic differentials just to make sure that the correct amount of power is sent at each wheel to give it amazing traction so Tess Wan has shown the g-class to be a very capable if slightly crude off-road machine Tetsu will look at the g63 load Logan ability with 560 pound-feet of torque coupled to AMG's 7g tronic auto gearbox it should be the ultimate tow truck this Caravan is a Genesis I b4 it's about eight metres long weighs just shy of 1.9 tons and it's about the biggest you're allowed to toe in the UK now when you add the weight of that the weight of that you're just short about four and a half tons this should be good 1885 90 miles an hour and it feels pretty solid I mean it's an unnerving feeling feels nice moving around but it feels good it's pretty stable almost effortless but just in case your trailer becomes unruly the g63 has an extra trick amid sleep the stability control systems have been specially tuned to counteract any trainers of caravans that start a fishtail if it senses the caravan is starting to sway and affect the stability of the car then it will tickle Hulse the front brakes to keep everything in check but just what sort of dent does a two-term Caravan make in the g63 performance well to find out I've decided to do a nought to sixty two tests for all I know when I now will throttle there's a good chance I might just rip the caravans face off this standalone car gets there in just five point four seconds three two one go defi feel there's a bit of Giada through the whole chassis it's fifty miles an hour and there's 60 just remember to secure any fragile antiques before you slam on the brakes nine point four seconds that's not bad considering this four and half tonnes the g63 is proving to be a decent machine for action men who like Caravan holidays my final test is some hot laps of the track to find out if the g63 handles in a sporty way like its AMG badge suggests Oh I can't begin to tell you how awful this is the drive but also how prehistoric the ESB system feels as soon as I do ever watched in the mill that that's the brakes that's an automatic braking what's all that about I'll do again sir handling and g-class don't go together it's horrible with a capital H so the g63 AMG toes like a train and can handle the rough stuff but if you want all that wrapped up in a rewarding Road car then do yourself a favor and buy a top spec Range Rover and you'll save yourself 25 grand I don't think I've ever said and Mercedes is really horrible to drive but this is Oh God hey-yait's the latest baddest incarnation of the legendary Mercedes g-class the g63 AMG the g-class first went on sale in 1979 which makes it Mercedes longest-running model it was originally created for the military and has stuck with its army chic styling since which is a kind way of explaining white looks like a tank but under the bonnet is a five and a half liter twin-turbo v8 it's a nuclear bunker that accelerates harder than a Porsche Cayman on paper this looks like three different cars in one an all-conquering off-roader the world's greatest tow car and an AMG sports Beast so I'm gonna put it to the test with three wildly different challenges first group captain Plato reporting for duty the off-road facility test one will find out if the car can translate it's 537 brake horsepower into off-road traction this actually has impeccable off-road credentials here are g-class warm the grueling Perry Dakar Rally Raid in 1983 and G's are used by no less than 63 different armies across the globe you know off-roading is all about gentle smooth application of power looking for traction all the time this latest version has got three separate electronic differentials just to make sure that the correct amount of power is sent at each wheel to give it amazing traction so Tess Wan has shown the g-class to be a very capable if slightly crude off-road machine Tetsu will look at the g63 load Logan ability with 560 pound-feet of torque coupled to AMG's 7g tronic auto gearbox it should be the ultimate tow truck this Caravan is a Genesis I b4 it's about eight metres long weighs just shy of 1.9 tons and it's about the biggest you're allowed to toe in the UK now when you add the weight of that the weight of that you're just short about four and a half tons this should be good 1885 90 miles an hour and it feels pretty solid I mean it's an unnerving feeling feels nice moving around but it feels good it's pretty stable almost effortless but just in case your trailer becomes unruly the g63 has an extra trick amid sleep the stability control systems have been specially tuned to counteract any trainers of caravans that start a fishtail if it senses the caravan is starting to sway and affect the stability of the car then it will tickle Hulse the front brakes to keep everything in check but just what sort of dent does a two-term Caravan make in the g63 performance well to find out I've decided to do a nought to sixty two tests for all I know when I now will throttle there's a good chance I might just rip the caravans face off this standalone car gets there in just five point four seconds three two one go defi feel there's a bit of Giada through the whole chassis it's fifty miles an hour and there's 60 just remember to secure any fragile antiques before you slam on the brakes nine point four seconds that's not bad considering this four and half tonnes the g63 is proving to be a decent machine for action men who like Caravan holidays my final test is some hot laps of the track to find out if the g63 handles in a sporty way like its AMG badge suggests Oh I can't begin to tell you how awful this is the drive but also how prehistoric the ESB system feels as soon as I do ever watched in the mill that that's the brakes that's an automatic braking what's all that about I'll do again sir handling and g-class don't go together it's horrible with a capital H so the g63 AMG toes like a train and can handle the rough stuff but if you want all that wrapped up in a rewarding Road car then do yourself a favor and buy a top spec Range Rover and you'll save yourself 25 grand I don't think I've ever said and Mercedes is really horrible to drive but this is Oh God hey-ya\n"