Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG is now on sale in India

That the Sports Utility Vehicles are a rage in India is not a surprise. What is a surprise though is the sheer magnitude of them getting launched in our market. Over the last week or so, there has been no less than 5 launches, all of them being SUVs that are either new or face-lifted. Mercedes-Benz had the last laugh though, as it brought in the grand daddy of all SUVs - the brutal G63 AMG, on Tuesday, the 19th of February.

The G-Class or 'Geländewagen' (German for ‘overland vehicle’) is a cult automobile. With its military roots and a basic design that's been around since the model's debut in 1979, the G-Class has amassed a massive fan following across the world, including India. When Mercedes-Benz launched the G55 AMG in India and gave the other variants a miss, their intentions were clear. They wanted to position the G-Class as an exclusive status symbol for the super rich. With this new G63 AMG, they are continuing that tradition. With an ex-showroom Mumbai price of INR 1.46 Crores, the G63 AMG is among the most expensive Sports Utility Vehicles in India.

The straight, boxy and unashamedly classic lines that earned the Geländewagen a lot of praise is the highlight of the new G63 AMG. As always, it's the detailing and finesse that has moved up a notch over its predecessor. Inspite of its age, the G63 AMG is an eyeball magnet, thanks to the AMG-grille with twin chrome louvers, the dual chrome-tipped exhaust pipes on both sides, the massive 20-inch alloy wheels in Titanium Grey with contrasting red brake calipers and it's rugged 'go-anywhere' looks. The interiors are touted to be even more luxurious now, with the seats, dashboard, steering wheel and door panels swathed in a sea of leather.

As with all Mercedes-Benz cars, the G63 AMG comes with the full set of active and passive safety features.

Having used the letters 'AMG' in the post, how can we not talk about power and performance? As with most AMG-tuned variants, the G63 AMG is brutally powerful and insanely quick, with its performance nothing short of scintillating. We know that because we have driven the G55 AMG in Ladakh before and were bowled over by its performance. With a supercharged 5-5-liter V8 engine under its hood, the G63 AMG is rated at 544 hp at 5500 rpm. Coupled with the rated torque of a whopping 760 Nm at 2000 rpm, the G63 AMG is capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.4 seconds.

Inspite of its exorbitant price tag, the G55 AMG was popular among the rich and affluent in India. With the launch of the new G63 AMG, Mercedes-Benz is hoping to carry the momentum forward.