Mercedes-Benz G 550 Gets More Bling From Forgiato

Whenever a modern-day G-Wagen pops up in our news feed, it is usually in the Mercedes-AMG configuration. But not this one, as it is a regular Benz, and you’re looking at the G 550, a V8-powered version of the iconic off-roader that sits below the one from the Affalterbach brand in our market.
 

Known as the G 500 overseas, the Mercedes-Benz G 550 remains committed to the V8 recipe, as mentioned above, packing a 4.0-liter bi-turbo V8 under the hood. The engine produces 416 brake horsepower (421 ps/310 kW) between 5,250 and 5,500 rpm and 450 pound-feet (610 Nm) of torque at 2,000-4,750 rpm. The thrust goes to the four-wheel drive through a nine-speed automatic transmission. The G 500 returns 13/16 mpg US (18.1/14.7 l/100 km) in city/highway, respectively, and needs 5.6 seconds to reach 60 mph (97 kph).
 
However, the one pictured above in the gallery could be a hair slower due to its mods. Can you tell what’s new here? If you said the wheels, then you know your G-Wagens. They came from Forgiato’s portfolio, with the same company also dropping these photos on social media recently, and they have a five-spoke design with an almost disc-like pattern and an extremely shiny finish that goes hand-in-hand with other chrome elements seen on the outside, including that bulbar, which doesn’t exactly do justice to this model, if you ask us.
 

The vehicle wears a white paint finish and sports additional chrome elements on the rear spare wheel holder, as well as the three-pointed star logos decorating it at the front and rear, and the G 550 badge that sits above the left taillight. It also has some black touches here and there, rear privacy windows, and an interior that’s not visible at all in these images. Still, given the outside look, chances are this Mercedes-Benz G 550 has remained stock in the cabin, which wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing, as even with zero aftermarket intervention, it still looks good inside.
 
As you already know, the facelifted G 550 dropped its V8 engine for an inline-six with forced induction and an integrated starter generator. The model now enjoys 443 brake horsepower (450 ps/330 kW) at 6,100 rpm and 413 pound-feet (600 Nm) of torque. It needs 5.3 seconds to reach 60 mph from a standstill, so it is three-tenths of a second faster than its V8-powered predecessor, and returns 17 mpg (13.4 l/100 km) in the city and 19 mpg (12 l/100 km) on the highway, and that makes it more frugal. Pricing for the 2025 Mercedes-Benz G 550 is set at $148,250, excluding destination. The G 580 with EQ Technology, aka the EV, starts at $161,500, and the Mercedes-AMG G 63 at $186,100.