Mercedes-Benz G500 4×4² Is a Lime Green Off-Road Machine

From the wheel arches up, the G500 4×4² is pretty much your regular G-Class, albeit on that's painted in a color more suited to Lamborghinis or tuned up Japanese imports. It has the same cabin as any other G-Class, but it does come with a less powerful version of the 4.0-liter twin-turbo engine found on all recent AMG models.

Under the G500 4×4²'s hood, it's only good for 421 hp, but we say "only" simply because we know for a fact it can easily go past the 600 hp mark. On the other hand, on a car such as the G500 4×4², its torque is more important, and it delivers plenty: 610 Nm, or 450 lb-ft.

However, it's what happens under the waistline that makes the G500 4×4² truly unique. The car has been fitted with the same portal axles that, besides the extra set of wheels, are what makes the G63 6x6 the off-road monster that it is. This setup essentially allows the actual axle to be moved higher up than the wheels' center, giving the car greater clearance and improved abilities over rough terrain.

Seeing it negotiate those man-made obstacles is like watching a professional athlete in a children's playground. Talk about not taking advantage of its entire range of skills... The Mercedes-Benz G500 4×4² is probably one of the best luxury SUVs when it comes to tackling the most difficult courses without any modifications.

Why don't all off-road cars come equipped like this, then, you'll ask? Well, it may have something to do with its price. The G500 4×4² costs way more than the 571 hp Mercedes-AMG G63, and we're not talking 10 or 20,000 dollars here. In Germany, it's a full 80,000 euros costlier. Be that as it may, it's not like anybody is paying that extra so it can take advantage of the benefits brought by the portal axle system. Nope, it's the exclusivity of owning such a vehicle that gets people to fork that kind of money. Which is really a shame. Well, as long as they make videos such as this and post them on YouTube, all is forgiven.