New Merc G-class gets V12 27 | 03 | 2012

WEEKS BEFORE IT'S officially unveiled at next month’s Beijing Motor Show, Mercedes has leaked a photo of its lightly facelifted G-class.

Scheduled for a June launch, the latest version of Mercedes' 33-year-old G-class boasts a number of subtle styling tweaks to the box-like facade.

The newcomer — which will be available in two different wheelbases: 2400mm in standard guise and 2850mm in LWB form — gets a restyled grille, new headlamp inserts featuring LED daytime running lights and redesigned mirror housings.

It's also believed the facelifted model will also benefit from altered tail lamps graphics and a new line of alloy wheels.

There are also big changes under the bonnet. Out goes the tried-and-tested, but 12-year-old 500bhp supercharged 5.4-litre V8 in the G55 AMG. It's replaced by a 536bhp version of AMG’s contemporary twin-turbocharged 5.5-litre V8 in a new G63 AMG.

Mercedes unveils SL65 AMG

The biggest news though is the introduction of a new and extremely fast G65 AMG. Powered by the same twin-turbocharged 6.0-litre V12 recently confirmed for the SL65 AMG, the 621bhp engine is understood, according to Mercedes, to catapult the 2500kg-plus G65 AMG from 0-62mph in just 5.2sec. The car is electronically restricted to 155mph.

The AMG models are instantly recognisable by dint of their different front end: all AMG G-class models get a deeper front bumper housing large air ducts for more efficient engine cooling.

Not surprisingly, they also benefit from larger brakes lifted from the recently introduced ML63 AMG.

All new G-class models will be equipped with Mercedes’ seven-speed 7G-tronic gearbox in place of the five-speed 5G-Tronic unit: in addition to making the journey smoother, the seven-speed is also more economical. The G63 AMG also gets a stop/start function and brake energy recuperation.

Mercedes shows new A-class

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Jim McGill