Until now, India only got the borderline-offensive G 63 AMG, but now we also get a proper diesel one in the shape of the G 350d, and it’s a far more befitting (not to mention far less ludicrous) heart for this automotive anachronism. The original Geländewagen of 1979 was developed to be a military vehicle, though it went on to become popular with peaceful civilians as well. And though it received numerous tweaks over the decades, it ran more or less unchanged till 2018 when this new one was launched.
For 40 years, the G has been made in Graz, Austria, by Magna Steyr for Mercedes-Benz. The latter supplies vital components like the engine and drivetrain, among other things, while the rest of the job is handled by the former. I didn’t know that, though it makes complete sense; look at all the other Mercs’ evolution, and it seems like the G has escaped any huge progress precisely because it’s made in another country by someone else. It’s all well and good, really, until I think of explaining how exposed door hinges are acceptable on a car that features a starting ex-showroom price of ₹1.5 crore. And that’s only the beginning.
This story is from the December 2019 edition of Motoring World.
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This story is from the December 2019 edition of Motoring World.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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