Mercedes-AMG GT R Prototype [spy Shot]

Over the past year, we have seen plenty of AMG GT and AMG GT R test cars running in camouflage but most of the time they featured no visible modifications. There may be hope, however. Carscoops spy photographers have come across an interesting AMG GT R prototype that might conceal some hardware reserved for a hotter version. Just don’t get too excited because the changes are not that big from a visual standpoint. At first glance, this test car seemed just like all the other prototypes seen before. However, it was louder than a stock AMG GT R, and a closer inspection revealed why. While the front end and interior didn’t give away any clues, the rear end did. The bumper is clearly sourced from a GT R but the big central exhaust is fake. Look closely and you’ll notice that it has a completely different exhaust, with two round pipes on each side stacked on top of each other. We can’t say for sure whether this is an early prototype for an AMG GT R Black Series or the recently confirmed “Clubsport” track-focused version. Nevertheless, it’s clear that Mercedes-AMG has something new in store for the GT, and that can only mean good news. We know it’s loud and fast, let’s just hope that it’s also Black.

We wouldn’t take it on a skid pad, and the built-in sport mode doesn’t do much to change our mind about that, but Mercedes’ suspension wizardry does a remarkable job of keeping body roll in check under normal driving conditions. The trade-off is a firm ride that relays every imperfection into the cabin. The seats stop them before they reach the occupants’ spine. Colossal Pirelli tires wrapped around 22-inch wheels and a model-specific all-steel suspension system with eight dampers and eight springs help the driver make the most of the G’s ground clearance. We can’t think of many obstacles commonly encountered on the trail (or in the parking lot of a suburban mall, for that matter) the 4x4 Squared can’t drive over with ease. Off the pavement, it only takes a minute to forget about the G’s reputation for decadence and appreciate it for what it is: an old-school, no-nonsense off-roader capable of climbing a glacier in fifth gear.

225,000 price tag. Meandering through the gorgeous Virginia woods on relatively narrow trails was a masochistic experience for the mind. Traffic—even in D.C.—is a controlled environment. There are lanes, lights, and sometimes even turn signals. You’re on our own out in the forest, at the mercy of any rock, tree, dirt bike, or bear that wants a chunk of your conspicuously elephantine luxo-cruiser. Believe us, we don’t want to find out the cost of a replacement fender. The flat, vertical dash indicates the G is the real deal, not a quack retro-inspired replica of a once-relevant classic model. Mercedes swathed the cabin in leather and Alcantara, and furnished the dashboard with carbon fiber to add a sporty touch. From behind the wheel, it feels like you’re sitting in a Wrangler that went on a shopping spree after winning the lottery. The materials and the build quality are comparable to the ones in the S-Class, and we love the fantastic pneumatic bolsters integrated into the front seats. This is the kind of attention to detail that elevates the G above other, more modern luxury off-roaders.

It’s not as anachronistic as the now-defunct Land Rover Defender, which only got slightly less rudimentary over time, but there are places where its age becomes glaringly evident. Did SUV buyers in 1979 want a cup holder? Nope. Do they in 2017? You bet. Since there’s no room on the dashboard or on the center console, the front cup holder is a flip-up, basketball net-like gizmo bolted to the transmission tunnel side of the passenger footwell. Of course, it’s made with the finest netting and wrapped in hand-stitched leather. “The best or nothing,” as Mercedes often says. In-car tech isn’t one of the G’s selling points, which is fortunate because it’s certainly not one of its strong points. The infotainment system consists of a screen on top of the dashboard, a controller knob behind the shift lever, and a series of redundant buttons on the center console. Mercedes could free up a considerable amount of real estate in the cabin by switching to a more user-friendly touch screen-based infotainment system. The Mercedes-Benz G550 4x4 Squared exists in diametrically opposed dimensions. It’s the unprincipled chariot fast-living Russian mobsters drive through Moscow on their days off, the zenith of a model synonymous with self-indulgence. It’s also the culmination of an illustrious 38-year production run that’s going to end in the coming months, a concentrate of Mercedes’ knowledge in the off-roader department. When the current-generation G-Class finally enters the pantheon of automotive history, we’ll prefer to remember the G550 4x4 Squared for its original calling in life.