Cars

Bask in the off-road glory of the Mercedes-Benz G550 4x4^2

Rocking a pair of portal axles, the G550 4x4² is an extreme variant of Mercedes' oldest workhorse, a utility vehicle that hasn't stopped dominating rough terrain since it first went on sale to the public in 1979.

Andrew Krok

Cars are Andrew's jam, as is strawberry. After spending years as a regular ol' car fanatic, he started working his way through the echelons of the automotive industry, starting out as social-media director of a small European-focused garage outside of Chicago. From there, he moved to the editorial side, penning several written features in Total 911 Magazine before becoming a full-time auto writer, first for a local Chicago outlet and then for CNET Cars.

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Andrew Krok

June 10, 2016 8:52 a.m. PT

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This car is a monster.

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Featuring a set of high-mounted portal axles, the G550 4x4² features a ride height nearly twice as high as the standard G550.

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By tucking axle tubes and the differential high up on the vehicle, the 4x4² adds a level of capability not seen on the standard G-Class.

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Fording depth is up to 39.4 inches, besting even Range Rover, which has some of the best out-of-the-factory off-roading specs of any utility vehicle brand.

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Its approach angle is 51.6 degrees, departure is 47.4 and its breakover angle is 47.4 degrees.

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Those three figures are each about 20 degrees higher than on a standard G550.

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Powered by a 4.0-liter V-8, putting out 416 horsepower and 450 pound-feet, it has the same output figures as the standard G550.

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It isn't the first Geländewagen to feature portal axles -- that honor belongs to the AMG 6x6, a monstrosity of engineering that would make Dr. Moreau proud.