Mercedes-Benz G 500 4X4²: yellow color on the Pyrenees snow
The Mercedes-Benz G500 4×4² (or G550 4×4² in the United States) is a special edition of the W-463 Mercedes-Benz G-Class (1990–2018), built with portal gear axles and much larger wheels and tires, for greatly increased off-road capability. In production since 2015, the model combines the body of a regular long-wheelbase Mercedes G-wagen with the portal axles with hub gearing of the much larger Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG 6×6.
In addition to the greatly increased ground clearance, the G500 4×4² version also has significantly wider tracks, compared to regular G-Class models.
Fitted with a twin-turbo V8 engine with up to 416 HP, the vehicle stands out by combining Humvee-like off-road specifications with sports car performance, as well as being one of the very few production cars equipped with portal axles / geared hubs.
The Mercedes-Benz G500 4×4² has a 4.0 L (244 cu in) twin-turbo V8 petrol engine producing 416 bhp and 450 lb⋅ft (610 N⋅m) of torque, a seven-speed automatic transmission, and three lockable differentials, like any regular G-Wagen.
The special portal axles, geared hubs, and wheels are complemented by raised suspension developed by KW with dual spring and shock damper struts with adjustable damping, on each corner.
The car features very aggressive styling, that uses the front fascia copied from the G63 and G65 AMG, and dual side-pipe exhausts that exit ahead of the rear wheels on both flanks.
The vehicle’s ground clearance of 410 mm (16.1 in) slightly betters that of a Humvee, but it can sprint from naught to 60 mph (97 km/h) in less than six seconds. On the inside, the car offers comfort and materials similar to a luxury saloon.
Compared to the already very robust standard G550, the 4×4² still offers much more of every off-road specification:
7.9 in (20 cm) of extra ground-clearance, 15.8 in (40 cm) of additional wading depth, a 21.6-degree steeper approach-angle, 23.4° greater breakover-, and 13.4° extra departure-angle.
The front track is wider by 9 inches (23 centimetres), the rear by 10 inches (25 centimetres).
The Mercedes 4×4² beats the Hummer H1 on paper in almost every off-road measurement — except for traversing a slope. The 4×4² is limited to a 28.4° bank-angle, compared with the Humvee’s 30°.
