Mercedes-AMG G 63 Edition 55

55 years ago, Hans Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher founded a small tuning company in the small village of Großaspach near Stuttgart. They had the initials of their surnames and the name of the village entered in the commercial register as the company name. This is how AMG came into being. Initially, they concentrated mainly on performance enhancements for the various saloons in the Mercedes-Benz range. Unlike today, this didn’t involve chip tuning or larger turbochargers, but sharper camshafts, polished intake ports and finely balanced crankshafts. Over the years, the company continued to grow and moved to Affalterbach in 1976. In the 1980s, there were a few projects for other car companies, but in general the company remained loyal to Mercedes-Benz. In 1990, an official cooperation agreement was signed, resulting in the first jointly developed car in 1993. From the C 36 AMG onwards, AMG products were officially on the Mercedes price lists and could be ordered from dealers.

Edition 55 as the first anniversary model

AMG has been part of the Daimler Group since 1998 (51 percent takeover) and 2005 (remaining shares acquired). In 2011, the company changed its name to Mercedes-AMG as an independent car brand. In the meantime, more than 2,000 highly qualified employees work in Affalterbach. Why are we writing this short company portrait? Because an exclusive special edition model based on the G 63 is being launched to mark the 55th anniversary. The Edition 55 is available to order now and only until October 2022. Further special models are to follow in the course of the year. Compared to the normal Mercedes-AMG G 63, a surcharge of € 17,850 (in Germany) will be due. For this sum, customers will of course receive a fair amount of added value. However, the four-liter V8 biturbo engine with 430 kW/585 hp and 850 Nm of torque remains unchanged. It is coupled to a nine-speed automatic transmission and accelerates the off-roader from a standstill to 62 mph in 4.5 seconds.

Extensively equipped

For the Edition 55, customers get to choose between the paint colors “Obsidian Black metallic” or “G Manufaktur Opalite White Bright” for the bodywork. Color-matched decorative foils with the AMG emblem and a suggested AMG rhombus are applied to the vehicle flanks. The wheel arches are filled with 22-inch forged wheels in “Tantalum Grey matt” with a gloss-turned rim flange. The scope of delivery of the special edition model also includes the AMG Night package and the AMG Night package II as well as a fuel filler cap in silver chrome. Inside, leather in black and red provides contrasts. The velour floor mats also feature red decorative stitching and woven-in “Edition 55” lettering. The AMG logo and the number 55 are engraved on the lower steering wheel rim. Matt exposed carbon on the trim strips and illuminated door sill trims round off the look. Every customer also receives an indoor car cover.

Images: Mercedes-AMG