Mercedes has applied a touch-up brush to the long-serving G-Class (more than 35 years old and counting), bringing 16 per cent more power, lower fuel consumption, the odd new engine and some styling tweaks inside and out.
Exterior
The G 350 d and G 500 models (we'll come to the latter's mechanicals in a minute, as it's the new boy) have restyled bumpers and body-coloured AMG flared wheel arches. The G 350 d gets a new 18-inch five-spoke light alloy wheel design, as well. Go mental and order the Colour package, and hues such as (no, we're not about to make these up) Solar Beam, Tomato Red, Alien Green, Sunset Beam and Galactic Beam are on offer. On such cars, various details - mirrors, bumpers, wheel arch extensions, the ring around the spare wheel cover and the roof - are painted Obsidian Black.
Opt for either of the Mercedes-AMG models (G 63 or G 65) and the AMG Edition 463 special is available. This equips a stainless steel underguard, AMG sport stripes up the side of the G-Class and 21-inch alloys as part of some subtle styling upgrades.
Interior
The 'regular' Gs get a two-tube-look instrument cluster with a 4.5-inch multifunction display, as well as redesigned pointers and dials. Colour package models have the interior topstitching matched to whichever garish exterior shade you've plumped for. The AMG models get a new cluster too, but the Edition 463 goes a step further with a two-tone instrument panel, two-tone seats with side bolsters in carbon-look leather and diamond quilting.
Mechanicals
While the existing three powerplants get mild power hikes, the new engine is the 4.0-litre biturbo V8 in the G 500. This is the engine from the Mercedes-AMG GT and C 63 models, and it was seen in the G 500 4x42 show car that Merc is considering putting into production. It makes the same 422hp and 610Nm as the 4x42, allowing the G 500 to go from 0-100km/h in just 5.9 seconds; that's close to AMG pace.
Talking of which, the V8-powered G 63 rises to 571hp and 760Nm (up from 544hp previously), while the monster V12 in the G 65 develops the same 1,000Nm as before but now makes 630hp, as opposed to 612hp. The solitary diesel in the G 350 d also gets a boost, with its new data reading 245hp/600Nm, instead of 211hp/540Nm; 0-100km/h times from G 350 through G 63 to G 65 go 8.9 seconds, 5.4 seconds and 5.3 seconds. All engines bar the V12 get an eco start/stop function to help improve their economy figures (which Merc helpfully doesn't quote).
The G-Class's standard suspension has been revised with optimised dampers for better body control and more ride comfort, while the ESP has been tweaked too. The G 500 gets a new adaptive damping system with Sport and Comfort modes.
Anything else?
The new G-Class models will be available to order later this year.