Mercedes G65 AMG Sits High Above the Rest…Literally
The Mercedes G65 AMG is the flagship of the G-class lineup. The 6.0L twin-turbo V12 pumps out 621 hp and 738 lb-ft that pushes this 5700 lb beast from 0 to 60 in just 5.3 seconds. But what does one do when driving an all-wheel-drive 600 hp flagship Merc just isn’t inspiring enough?
Well, add portals and a long list of carbon fiber upgrades, of course.
The portals lift the vehicle about 5 inches, while increasing axle clearance and giving the vehicle a wider stance for improved stability. The portal’s gear reduction means no loss of power and you’re not asking other stock components to push the large tires. The new springs provide extra height and clearance, while the custom King shocks give the G65 AMG a much more comfortable ride than stock. In order to fit 38″ tires under the new flares (and level the vehicle at the same time), we added spring spacers front and rear. An offset bushing kit was used to bring the caster back into spec. The 38×13.5R20 Toyo Mud-terrain tires complete the off-road look, while adding another 4″ in axle clearance and overall height. Between the portals, suspension, and 38″ tires, the vehicle sits about 12″ higher than stock.
When it comes to styling, the carbon fiber fender flares and carbon fiber roof spoiler with LEDs were borrowed from the Mercedes G550 4×4². So were the mud flaps, front skid plate, rear guard, and rear tube bumper (Euro-spec G550 4×4²). The carbon fiber hood attachment and snorkels give the vehicle a more aggressive look than the Squared. The powder coated brush guard, roof rack with accessories and auxiliary lights, along with the spare tire carrier have the G off-road ready.
The FORGLITE beadlock-style wheels look absolutely perfect on this truck. For those who don’t need CTIS (Central Tire Inflation System) to air down and back up on-the-fly, these 2-pc Forged wheels are a much better option then the 6×6 AMG wheels popular with our 4×4 Squared customers. The FORGLITE wheels are much lighter, easier to balance, TPMS compatible, and any tire shop can do the installation. The red pinstripe sets the wheel off and ties in nicely with the red accents and red interior.
Inside, you’ll find a red leather with diamond stitching by Coachmen, which replaced the OEM grey leather inserts and door panels. The carpeted cargo area was covered in the same diamond-stitched red leather to match the amp/subwoofer enclosure, which is wrapped in the same smooth red leather. The Coachmen headliner is done in bright red with LED’s that turn on with the vehicle and provide a nice ambient lighting at night. With an abundance of carbon fiber on the exterior, the client wanted to continue the theme inside. The wood trim and steering wheel were replaced with high-gloss carbon fiber parts from evoc Carbon, which look amazing next to the red leather.
However, getting into the front seats to enjoy the red leather and carbon fiber trim is practically impossible for the average adult. Or extremely awkward at the least. Getting in the rear seat is even more difficult, thanks to a narrow opening and the oversized flares. So we added 90 degree rear door hinges and electric steps. We started with a set of standard electric side steps then had GRIT Offroad fabricate custom brackets and hardware so the side steps tuck up neatly under the factory side steps. The motors for the electric steps interfere with the stock muffler so ROGUE Exhaust planned to make a custom muffler to fit between the mounts. However, the twin turbos were really quieting the sound of the motor, so ROGUE used a straight pipe instead. Problem Solved. We got the clearance we needed and better sound.
The end result is an exclusive one-of-a-kind G65 that goes off-road in style.
