2008 Mercedes-Benz G500 Base Sport Utility 4-Door 5.0L

Detailed item info Model OverviewKnown as a Gelandewagen (or cross-country vehicle) at home. the Mercedes-Benz G-Class was originally built as a military vehicle. Offered for many years to European customers. Mercedes-Benz finally brought the vehicle to North America in 2002. and named it the G-Class. Appropriate to its military heritage. the G-Class continues to be built with heavy-duty truck-style suspension and axles for 2008. The solid front and rear axles and three locking differentials will appeal to fans of hard-core off-roading. which is where the G-Class shines brightest. The utilitarian appearance of the G-Class further illustrates its military heritage. The vehicle's boxy appearance. the front grille and sharp edges seem to suggest that it was machined from a solid block of steel. The spare tire is even housed on the rear tailgate and encased in a stainless-steel shell. The G-Class weighs in at a hefty 5. 00 pounds. The base G500 has a 5. 0L V8 that produces 292 horsepower and 336 ft-lbs of torque. which is mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission. The standard bi-xenon headlights. also new. have dedicated high-pressure washers. Mercedes-Benz also includes heated power mirrors and rain-sensing wipers for adverse weather conditions. Inside. the power front seats have three-position memory and include pneumatic side bolsters. They are. of course. trimmed in leather. Mercedes-Benz COMAND system includes a 6. 5-inch LCD screen and allows control of the stereo. navigation system. climate control system. and vehicle systems all with one control knob. For 2008. a rearview camera is added to the list of standard gizmos. as is a hands-free communications setup. The included SmartKey system allows the user to keep his or her keys in their pocket. The car "senses" the driver approach. activates locator lighting. and unlocks the doors. Once the driver is seated. the vehicle starts with the push of a button. Rear parking assist and dual-zone climate control are also standard on all G-Class models. The G55 AMG model features a 5. 5L supercharged V8 engine that produces 493 horsepower and 516 ft-lbs of torque. It's connected to a five-speed adaptive automatic transmission with touch-shifting. The tires are monstrous 285/55VR18 treads with 18-inch AMG-specific aluminum wheels. The upgraded brakes are slotted and vented discs. Four exhaust tips extend out the back. A silver-painted grille and chrome turn signal cages complete the exterior appearance upgrade. Inside. Nappa leather upholstery and hand-polished maple wood trim enhance the aura of luxury.