Mercedes G-Class Diesel-Powered Costs More Than A New AMG G 63

Clearly, this isn’t your run-of-the-mill Mercedes G-Class, as if there is something like that about a modern SUV that comes with a six-digit price tag attached to it. Can you tell what specification you are looking at? If you said the ‘Stronger Than The 1980s’ edition, you should pat yourself on the back for knowing your G-Wagens, as this is it, indeed.
 

Launched a few months ago, the idea behind this model is simple: a retro-styled G-Wagen based on the latest iteration. We think the three-pointed star brand’s department responsible for naming special editions could have come up with a better name, as we all know that Mercedes cars used to be built like tanks back then, whereas now, they’re made of the automotive equivalent of Jell-O.
 
We won’t delve into this aspect, as we are certain you are aware of the famous quality issues of Mercedes’ modern vehicles. And if you haven’t experienced them first-hand, you likely read about them online. Or saw at least a video on social media. We’re not saying the modern G-Class is bad, as what we’re trying to say is that the military-derived older iterations were truly built to last.
 
With that off our chest, let’s remind ourselves about the Mercedes-Benz G-Class Stronger Than The 1980s Edition, which was capped at 460 copies, with each one based on the G 500 (G 550 in the U.S.) or the G 450 d diesel. Some classic Manufaktur paint schemes were available, alongside retro-styled wheels, black trim for the bumpers, grille, mirror caps, and wheel arches, a three-pointed star logo on the hood, and an authentic logo from back in the day at the rear.
 

Upon opening the door, the model’s name is displayed on the ground, and the first thing you’ll see inside are the gray plaid fabric seats with part leather upholstery. The usual amenities one might expect to find in a modern G-Wagen are clearly on deck here, so users won’t feel like they’ve been cut off from the modern automotive world while paying a premium for this model.
 
The pictured car is brand new and is presented in Crème White Uni, with a scratch-resistant clear coat and a gray and black interior. It has 18-inch alloys with a five-spoke design, a roof rack, mud flaps, open-pore black flamed ash wood trim elements, MBUX infotainment, smartphone integration, a sunroof, privacy windows, and numerous safety gear. The list includes stuff such as the active lane keeping assist, blind spot monitoring, Distronic Plus with cross-traffic assist, exit warning assist, Pre-Safe, and many others.
 
It’s a diesel-powered premium truck in the 450 d configuration. This means that it uses a mild-hybrid 3.0-liter inline six that produces 367 metric horsepower (362 hp/270 kW) and 750 Nm (553 pound-feet) of torque. According to Mercedes, the G 450 d sprints to 100 kph (62 mph) in 5.8 seconds. The ad reveals an average fuel consumption of 9.9 l/100 km (23.8 mpg US), 12.1 l/100 km (19.4 mpg US) in the city, and 8.1 l/100 km (29 mpg US) on rural roads for the G 450 d Stronger Than The 1980s special edition.
 

This car is advertised by Hollmann International. It is in stock and can be exported worldwide, and you probably have no idea how much it costs. The answer is €225,505, which equals almost $263,000 at the current exchange rate. This means that it is pricier than a brand-new Mercedes-AMG G 63 in its homeland of Germany. The latter starts at €191,233 ($222,960). The regular G 450 d starts at €124,355 ($144,990), and the G 500 (G 550 in the U.S.) at €133.577.50 ($155.740).
 
Mercedes does not sell the diesel-powered G-Class stateside, but the G 550 is available here, and it kicks off at $148,250 (€127,135), whereas the range-topping AMG G 63 has an MSRP of $186,100 (€159,595). Thus, for the cost of the pictured Mercedes-Benz G 450 d Stronger Than The 1980s edition, one can buy almost two brand-new regular G 450 d cars in Germany, or they could have a fresh-off-the-lot G 63, which packs a punchy V8 motor making 585 ps (577 hp/430 kW).
 
If money is the least of your concerns and you crave a new retro-styled Mercedes G-Class, there is something even better than the special edition mentioned above. It’s called the Himalaya Diamond and it came from Carlex Design. And instead of using a diesel engine, it is based on the AMG G 63. This retro G-Wagen is the stuff of dreams as it truly looks like a millionaire’s ride.
 
We don’t know how much it costs, yet this is one of those cases where if you have to ask, you probably cannot afford it. We’d get the Himalaya G-Wagen in a heartbeat over the Stronger Than The 1980s, even if it likely costs significantly more. If the pictured G 450 d sounds more appealing to you, you can check out the ad here.