Page 74 - The Book For Men Fall/Winter 2023

IN IMPOSING MATTE BLACK WITH OPULENT GOLD ACCENTS, THE Beneath the hood is proof positive of AMG’s performance expertise: a
Mercedes-AMG G 63 Grand Edition rolls into view with some serious pres- ence and poise. Out of its four side-exit exhausts (a G 63 staple for more than twenty years) the authoritative roar of a mighty V8 is emitted from an engine hand-built by a single, highly skilled technician. And to up its individuality, just 1,000 of these limited edition G-Classes will be made worldwide, with only a handful bound for Canada. But every single one celebrates of one of the most iconic vehicles to ever hit the road.
Comparing a burly, boxy off-roader to a Ferrari might seem strange, but when discussing the sheer desirability of the G-Class, it’s where we must start. Because the G’s reputation as the chosen ride of both the rich and the famous has always seen demand far outstrip supply, particularly when
it comes to the AMG versions. That means even deep pockets won’t guarantee you’ll get your hands on one.
The Grand Edition pays tribute to this status symbol identity with a host of gold accents both inside and out, choosing to flaunt its star presence. The three-pointed Mercedes star is picked out in a colour the brand calls Kalahari Gold Magno, the same shade you’ll see on the spare tire ring and front underbody protection. Its massive, AMG-specific 22-inch wheels are also gold, and on its hood the Grand Edition boasts a full, golden Affalterbach crest, blending the coat of arms of AMG’s home city with symbolic engine parts.
4.0 litre, twin-turbocharged V8 pumping out 577 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque. And, by tradition, the single AMG technician who assembles every engine affixes their signature to the motor as a sign of pride.
The G 63 has already, justifiably, become a social media star — even among Hollywood traffic. Everyone knows what it is and what it means. As a projec- tion of wealth and prestige, there’s no missing its broad-shouldered charisma. And yet, for a vehicle with a starting price of $242,000 CDN, the G-Class has surprisingly humble roots.
Like the Land Rover, the original G-Class was a bare-bones off-roader with only the slightest compromises when it came to comfort. Spurred on by an order for 20,000 military vehicles placed by the Shah of Iran in the 1970s, Mercedes set about building what it called a Gelandewagen (“gelande” being the German word for terrain). The mission brief was simple: to create a vehicle that could handle even the most brutal landscapes. Military versions were referred to as Wolves, but most civilians came to know the car as the G-Wagen.
Introduced in 1979, the model quickly gained notoriety for its unrelent- ing all-terrain capabilities. Forty years ago, Belgian racing driver Jacky Ickx thundered a 280 GE Gelandewagen to victory in the 1983 Paris-Dakar Rally, a gruelling race across the sands of the Sahara. Throughout the 1980s and ‘90s, the G-Wagen’s rugged 4x4 powertrain and locking differentials enabled it to
74 BFM / FW23 AUTO / THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS