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R.I.P. Outdated Mercedes G-Class

Mercedes-Benz has pulled the plug on the G-Class SUV, popularly known as the G-Wagen. The replacement for the vehicle will be unveiled at the 2018 Detroit Auto Show.

During the announcement made last week, the company also unveiled three special edition versions of the SUV. These versions are called the G 500 Limited Edition, G 350 d Limited Edition, and G 350 d Professional Limited Edition. Only 463 units of each of the limited-edition cars will be made - a reference to the G-Wagen's W463 model code. As a model that remained unchanged since its launch, the G-Class had a production run of 38 years, which is second only to the Unimog in the history of the company.

The G 500 Limited Edition and G 350 d Limited Edition come with brown leather seats, a dual tone dashboard and an AMG steering wheel. Both get changes on the outside including blackened radiator grille, dark tinted windows, heated windscreen and electric sunroof.

The G 350 d Professional Limited Edition gets a steel front bumper, indicators mounted on fenders with grilles, mud flaps and a roof rack. On the inside it gets fabric upholstery, heated front seats and a luggage net. A trailer coupling with ball head is also provided.

The G-Class was tested on the Schockl mountain in the Alps. To denote this, all the limited-edition cars get an emblem with the words "Schockl proved since 1979" along with "Limited Edition 1 of 463" on the center armrest.

The G 350 d Limited and Professional Editions are powered by a 3-litre, V6 turbocharged diesel engine that produces 241 BHP and 600 Nm of torque. The G 500 Limited Edition gets a 4-litre, V8 twin-turbocharged petrol engine making 416 BHP and 610 Nm.

The G-Class was suggested by the Shah of Iran - a major shareholder in Mercedes. Development of the car started in 1972, with an agreement between Daimler-Benz and Steyr-Daimler-Puch in Graz, Austria. Engineers in Stuttgart designed the car, while the Austrian team handled the production. The first prototype was tested in the German coalfields, Sahara Desert and the Arctic circle in 1974. The first civilian version was offered in 1979. The G-Wagen was updated in 1981 and 1990. The 1,00,000th G-Class was made in 1992. The next update came in early 2000. The G 55 AMG version was launched in the same year and the car made its official USA debut in 2001. 2009 marked the 30-year anniversary of the G-Class with total sales exceeding 2,00,000 units. G-Wagen no. 3,00,000 was produced earlier in 2017.

Mercedes Benz has also put up a website showcasing the G-Class over the years.

 
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