Official: 2009 Mercedes G 55 AMG
Now with 507 hp
By Frank de Leeuw van Weenen
June 9, 2008 5:00 PM
Filed Under: German, Mercedes-Benz
The Mercedes-Benz G Class has been around for a good 27 years now, and has rarely undergone a 'next generation' treatment like most cars, the current generation has been on the roads since 1990. It may never have been the best selling in the Mercedes range, but obviously it has always sold enough for it to stay in the line-up.
For the 2009 Model Year (MY) Mercedes has made, yet again, a few minor tweaks to the aging G Class which were released late last month. Now Mercedes has finally released official information on their range topping G Class, the G 55 AMG.
Besides the new grille design with three, larger horizontal bars with chrome inserts and new 19 inch AMG light alloy wheels (275/55 R 19), the biggest news is the 7 horsepower power increase over the 2008 MY and the 5.5 liter V8 engine now tops at 507 hp / 373 kW. Top speed is electronically limited to 210 km/h but is capable of a 0-100 km/h sprint of 5.5 seconds.
Other AMG treatment includes wide fenders, body colored bumpers, brushed-aluminum trim set, AMD sports exhaust system with chrome tailpipes and stainless steel running boards. The G 55 AMG is only available as the long wheel base 5-door station wagon model, will be available starting September 2008 and will have a recommended price starting at Euro 121,628 (including 19% VAT).
Press Release (Click to expand)
Targeted upgrade for the G 55 AMG: Classic with Added Appeal
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 climatised 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 recognises whenever the off-roader comes to a halt on an ascending gradient. The system instantly memorises 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 colour 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 tyres that impressively bulk out the wheel arches.
Still a standard feature of the AMG body-styling package are the bumpers painted in body colour and the characteristic AMG wide fenders. Other features include a brushed-aluminium 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-coloured designo emblem on the front backrests. The seats are colour-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 climatised 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 colour 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 DVDchanger 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).
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Comments
on better tyres could this beast go faster?
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