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GoAuto News June 24, 2009 Page 12
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Mighty Mercedes-Benz
4WD is set to return to
Australia early next year
‘Civilian’ G-class coming
‘Civilian’ G-class coming
By MARTON PETTENDY
THE legendary Mercedes-Benz G-class
is odds-on to be released in Australia and
New Zealand in upgraded 2010 guise early
next year after the German manufacturer’s
successful bid to supply the Australian
Defence Force (ADF) with 1200 military
versions from this year.
As GoAuto reported in October 2007,
Mercedes-Benz beat Land Rover and Toyota
to win a lucrative contract that involves the
virtual renewal of the ADF’s vehicle fl eet
over the next 15 years.
Now Mercedes-Benz has confi rmed that
it is close to completing a business case to
import the entire civilian G-class model
range, which will be signifi cantly upgraded
in early 2010, after the Australian Design
Rule (ADR) certifi cation of the related army
derivatives.
“The technical information and other
material that were required to achieve ADR
approval for the military vehicles has helped
progress our plans to offer the G-class in
Australia,” Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacifi c
senior corporate communications manager
David McCarthy told GoAuto. “At this point
we think we can make a successful business
case for all three G-class models – it’s 51
per cent there.”
While the ADF will take delivery this
year of both short- and long-wheelbase cab-
chassis models, the civilian G-class range
is expected to become available here in the
fi rst quarter of 2010, comprising three long-
wheelbase wagon variants – but no short-
wheelbase or convertible versions.
It will open with the soon-to-be-upgraded
2010 G350 CDI, powered by a 3.0-litre
turbo-diesel V6. The diesel is expected to
be the most popular version of the G-class
in Australia, where Mercedes expects to
fi nd around 200 buyers for the entire range
annually – with most interest coming from
‘grey nomads’.
To be available in at least two equipment
specifi cations, it is expected to cost at least as
much as the GL320 CDI, which is currently
priced at $120,600, while the 5.5-litre V8-
powered G500 and supercharged 5.4-litre
V8-powered G55 AMG are likely to be
order-only propositions, with the latter
expected to top $300,000.
The current G320 CDI employs a
165kW/540Nm version of the V6 diesel
found in the ML320 CDI and GL320
CDI, but GoAuto understands that next
year’s upgraded version should offer
174kW/540Nm. The current G320 CDI
has a kerb weight of 2260kg, returns
combined average EU fuel consumption of
11.0L/100km, and barrels to 100km/h in a
claimed 8.8 seconds.
The G500 is expected to be priced similar
to the GL500, which costs $154,500. The
current G500 offers 285kW and 530Nm,
weighs 2230kg, returns 14.7L/100km and
sprints to 100km/h in 5.9 seconds.
The recently upgraded G55 AMG
tops the range with its 373kW/700Nm
blown V8, which returns 15.9L/100km.
It weighs 2550kg and sprints to 100km/h
in 5.5 seconds, and while the G500 and
G320/350 employ a seven-speed automatic
transmission, the G55 runs a fi ve-speed auto.
Both V8s have a 210km/h top speed.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
G-class