2017 Mercedes-Benz G550 4x4 Squared Preview
Competes with: Land Rover Range Rover, Jeep Wrangler Unlimited and various cars from “Mad Max: Fury Road”
Looks like: A monster with a Mercedes-Benz badge
Drivetrain: 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8
Hits dealerships: Early 2017
Starting price: $225,925, including $925 destination
CARS.COM — If you’ve ever looked at the Mercedes-Benz G-Class and said, “Mmm, you know, it’s nice, but it’s just not rugged enough,” it turns out the German automaker heard you.
More 2016 L.A. Auto Show Coverage
Mercedes is unveiling the bigger, stronger, tougher Mercedes-Benz G550 4×4 Squared at the 2016 Los Angeles Auto Show. The G550 4×4 Squared retains the boxy G-Class shape but looks even more aggressive with its extra ground clearance and wider track.
The uprated SUV includes portal axle design, three locking differentials and ground clearance of more than 17 inches, so the signs point to a serious off-roader … and a car for which even the tallest folks will need a stepladder to get into.
Compared with the already extreme G550, the G550 4×4 Squared has 7.9 inches of extra clearance, 15.8 inches of additional wading depth, a 21.6-degree-steeper approach angle, 23.4 degrees more on the breakover and 13.8 extra degrees on departure. Additionally, the front track is wider by more than nine inches, the rear by more than 10 inches.
Under the hood, the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 makes 416 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque — the same as in the regular G500. It also uses the same seven-speed automatic transmission. Mercedes says its can rocket to 60 mph in less than 6 seconds.
