The 2019 Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen doesn鈥檛 look much different than the boxy SUVs from each of the 40 years preceding it. Typically, if a vehicle is indistinguishable from its predecessors, that鈥檚 a bad thing. The Mercedes-Benz G-Class is anything but typical. I went to San Diego, California to spend some time with both the 2019 Mercedes-Benz G550 and AMG G63 to see what鈥檚 different, and in this case, if change is good. Here are 8 things you need to know about the 2019 Mercedes-Benz G550 and AMG G63. The G550 drives like the old G-Class, but better. But it鈥檚 the AMG G63 model that is unbelievable, a rare feat. With softer springs up front combined with stiffer damper tune both front and rear, an anti-roll bar in the rear and a stiffer anti-roll bar up front, the AMG G63 doesn鈥檛 just handle, it carves corners. It鈥檚 an unreal, and surreal, experience carving corners in a Mercedes G-Class.

The 2019 Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen doesn鈥檛 look much different than the boxy SUVs from each of the 40 years preceding it. Typically, if a vehicle is indistinguishable from its predecessors, that鈥檚 a bad thing. The Mercedes-Benz G-Class is anything but typical. I went to San Diego, California to spend some time with both the 2019 Mercedes-Benz G550 and AMG G63 to see what鈥檚 different, and in this case, if change is good. Here are 8 things you need to know about the 2019 Mercedes-Benz G550 and AMG G63. The G550 drives like the old G-Class, but better. But it鈥檚 the AMG G63 model that is unbelievable, a rare feat. With softer springs up front combined with stiffer damper tune both front and rear, an anti-roll bar in the rear and a stiffer anti-roll bar up front, the AMG G63 doesn鈥檛 just handle, it carves corners. It鈥檚 an unreal, and surreal, experience carving corners in a Mercedes G-Class.

Corners can be taken far faster than physics, and science, should allow. Don鈥檛 think that because the new G-Class is far more capable on-road that it鈥檚 lost anything off road. All Gs now sport 9.5-inches of ground clearance (up 0.2 inches), and the AMG G63 has three off-road programs (trail, sand, and rock) while the G550 has one (G-Mode). The three locking differentials are still on board, though the metal rocker switches have been updated to plastic buttons, which is a shame. For 2019, the G550 comes standard with 18-inch wheels (19- and 20-inchers are available), but factory-approved 18-inch Falken Wildpeak all-terrain tires won鈥檛 be available until the 2020 model year for off-road adventures. The G63 launches for 2019 with 21-inch wheels (22-inchers are available), and AMG is still hard at work on an approved 18-inch all-terrain setup that it will rubber stamp. If the new G can鈥檛 get to Grandma鈥檚 house, there鈥檚 been a serious miscalculation.

All 2019 G-Classes come standard with bull bars. The G550鈥檚 goes around the upper grille and headlights while the AMG G63s only goes around the lower grilles. Mercedes-Benz told Motor Authority the bull bars are standard and that鈥檚 how they were certified and tested for sale in the U.S., but that could change in the future. Off-roaders will be dismayed to learn the design of the G550鈥檚 bull bar interferes with the surround-view camera system, so only the AMG G63 model has that very handy feature. The G-Class finally has cupholders. The previous G-Class was never designed for Americans and their Big Gulps. The G-Class didn鈥檛 officially come to the U.S. 2002, and its solution for America's need for cup holders was less than ideal: an attachment to the center console on the passenger side that dangled a Starbucks cup nervously. The new G-Class has two cupholders front and center ahead of the gear selector like most modern cars just waiting for that morning Frappuccino from Starbucks.

The G-Class is as tough as ever, but the interior is now as plush as it can be鈥攆or a G-Class. Quilted leather adorns the seats and door panels, real wood is on the grab handle for those 鈥淥h crap鈥?moments, and there鈥檚 bits of real metal about the cabin. There鈥檚 also some cheap plastic that鈥檚 been made to look like brushed aluminum. Lots of it. Particularly around the air vents on the dashboard. It鈥檚 a sour point in an otherwise exquisite interior. Only three things carried over from the old G-Class to the new G-Class: door locks, spare wheel cover, and headlamp washers. The latter two no one will really care, but the first one, people care. Mercedes-Benz said that鈥檚 the first question current G-Class owners asked: Does it still have the same locks? Unlock the G and there鈥檚 an absurdly loud click as the locks rotate open. Grab the door handle, click the button and the door releases. It鈥檚 one of the most satisfying feelings in the automotive universe. Slam the door shut and it sounds like a vault closing. Lock the doors and it sounds like a vault locking. Both the G550 and AMG 63 are powered by a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 that sends power to all four wheels at all times via a 9-speed automatic transmission. In the G550, this setup is good for 416 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque, and the AMG 63 spins out 577 hp and 627 lb-ft. While the exhaust tips are mounted aft of the B-pillar on both sides of the G-Class, only the G63 gets visible exhaust tips. Side pipes. The reason? Ground clearance. On the G550 the exhaust tips are mounted up high out of harm's way. The AMG G63鈥檚 0-60-mph dash happens in 4.5 seconds. It鈥檚 the definition of a flying brick.

This expensive supercar is one of the fastest and most expensive vehicles in the world, and thus, the Hennessey Venom GT is a car that Stallone would appreciate due to his taste for exotic luxury cars and expensive sports cars. The Hennessey Venom GT is a limited production model, and there won't be too many of them on the road. Thus, this is a rare investment. 1.2 million beauty and one of the most elite hypercars in the world. The Zenvo TS1 GT has a powerful 1,163-horsepower engine, which is a monstrously powerful engine that can handle just about anything that you throw at it. Every aspect of the Zenvo TS1 GT is hand-built by a core group of professionals. This gives the car an amazingly unique and quality aspect that no other car on the planet can come close to. 3.7 million, the Ferrari LaFerrari is a one-of-a-kind hand-built Ferrari model that takes some of the best aspects of an F1 racer and makes them street legal in a fun-to-drive one-of-a-kind package. The Ferrari LaFerrari is one of the rarest Ferrari models in existence next to the equally expensive Ferrari Enzo model.