The time has come to find out just how better the latest 2020 Mercedes-AMG G63 really is compared to its direct predecessor from 2018.
The 2020 Mercedes-AMG G63 may look just like the Geländewagen that went on sale in 1979 but in reality is a thoroughly re-engineered version of the original. Everything on it, from the body panels, axles, cabin and powertrains are new while its footprint has rather usefully grown too.
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The iconic G-Class is still using a body-on-frame chassis, only now it’s both longer and wider than its predecessor, and more importantly, 55 percent stiffer than the model it replaced. The suspension was similarly overhauled, with the front one now having a semi-independent setup and the rear retaining the rigid axle design, but the unit itself is an all-new design.
Under the bonnet of the 2020 Mercedes-AMG G63 we find the latest twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 engine, which here produces 577 HP (585 PS) and 627 lb-ft (849 Nm) of torque. The company’s nine-speed automatic transmission makes this dinosaur capable of completing the 0-60 mph (96 km/h) sprint in just 4.5 seconds.
The 2018 model used a supercharged 5.5-liter V8 with 571 HP and 560 lb-ft of torque, paired to a seven-speed automatic transmission but that powertrain was basically bolted on to an ancient structure that was never really meant to handle all that firepower. That includes not only straight-line performance but cornering as well, as Carwow demonstrates in its latest video.
These G63s may look similar but in this particular case, there’s way more than meets the eye.