The timeless design and superior handling on arduous terrains of the Mercedes-Benz G-Class have made it a favorite among enthusiasts - and its classic shape and prestige have done the same for celebrities. However, this particular example looks like it would feel at home in a U.S. Army or Marine base at Afghanistan or Iraq. Road Show International refers to the paint scheme as Desert Storm Satin. The shade is different than the Desert Sand offered by Mercedes in the new generation, and is joined by added additional LED lighting. By now, you might have noticed the Brabus wide body kit, which contributes to the special stance of this G550. Also Read: Tired Of Tahoes? The flashy red wheels, on the other hand, have come from Forgiato, and spoil the desert look. 鈥? according to the wheelmaker. For the interior of this previous-gen Mercedes-Benz G-Class, a combination of black and red leather, with diamond stitching, has been chosen. The premium material can be seen on the seats, door panels and floor mats, and has made the cabin 鈥渘othing short of supreme鈥? according to the tuner.

The timeless design and superior handling on arduous terrains of the Mercedes-Benz G-Class have made it a favorite among enthusiasts - and its classic shape and prestige have done the same for celebrities. However, this particular example looks like it would feel at home in a U.S. Army or Marine base at Afghanistan or Iraq. Road Show International refers to the paint scheme as Desert Storm Satin. The shade is different than the Desert Sand offered by Mercedes in the new generation, and is joined by added additional LED lighting. By now, you might have noticed the Brabus wide body kit, which contributes to the special stance of this G550. Also Read: Tired Of Tahoes? The flashy red wheels, on the other hand, have come from Forgiato, and spoil the desert look. 鈥? according to the wheelmaker. For the interior of this previous-gen Mercedes-Benz G-Class, a combination of black and red leather, with diamond stitching, has been chosen. The premium material can be seen on the seats, door panels and floor mats, and has made the cabin 鈥渘othing short of supreme鈥? according to the tuner.

The boxy shape, the chiseled fenders topped with huge turn-signal/marker lights, those round headlights (now LEDs), the minimalist taillights (also now LEDs) and the side-opening swing gate are all nearly identical to the old model. The looks haven鈥檛 changed much since its introduction in the mid-1970s. That side-hinged hatch is heavy and annoying; a swing-up liftgate would be more convenient, but there are a few of these sorts of nods to tradition in the G-Wagen that are critical to maintaining its classic status. Most notable are the door handles and locks 鈥?total throwbacks to cars from the 1970s and 1980s, complete with a pushbutton action on the exterior handles and a crazy-loud 鈥淐LACK鈥?when the truck is locked or unlocked. It sounds like the actuation of a rifle bolt 鈥?because that鈥檚 what it鈥檚 supposed to sound like. The doors close with a mechanical precision sound that you just don鈥檛 hear on modern vehicles, but which is so aurally satisfying.

Mercedes-Benz made very sure to keep that iconic noise and action for the new G-Wagen; the door handles are one of just a handful of bits carried over directly from the old model. The G550 looks the part of a monster off-roader, with tall slab sides and an upright greenhouse, but it also sounds like one thanks to the G550鈥檚 standard twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 engine. It鈥檚 the same power plant you鈥檒l find under the shapely hood of a Mercedes-AMG GT coupe or E63 AMG super sedan. Here, it makes a more-than-adequate 416 horsepower and 450 pounds-feet of torque, passing that power through a nine-speed automatic transmission to all four wheels thanks to permanent all-wheel drive. The AWD system features three switches on the dash that 99 percent of owners will never touch, except maybe out of curiosity. They control the sequentially locking differentials that help the G-Wagen traverse just about any terrain its tires can conquer. When it is on-road, the G-Wagen is far more pleasant than it used to be.

Acceleration is brutally quick thanks to the immediacy of the twin-turbo V-8鈥檚 torque delivery, and it comes in a seamless rush thanks to the smoothness of the transmission鈥檚 shifts. Braking performance is excellent, with firm, direct stops accompanied by less nosedive than previous models exhibited. The G550 doesn鈥檛 have quite the athletic provenance of the Range Rover, but it makes up for it with the nostalgia factor. You can now drive a G550 every day and not feel like you鈥檙e making any compromises. You will, however, pay a price at the pump. Owners of the G-Wagen can鈥檛 care about fuel economy, because it鈥檚 dismal: 13/17/14 mpg city/highway/combined. It鈥檚 a horrifying rating these days, but when you throw a box on 20-inch wheels down the road at 70 mph, that鈥檚 the price you pay. My observed fuel economy after more than 500 miles of highway driving was 16.5 mpg. Ouch. The Range Rover Supercharged with its supercharged 5.0-liter V-8 engine is rated 16/21/18 mpg but is far more aerodynamic than the Benz, with a slippery shape that looks more modern than the G-Wagen.