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UBS study: «Prices and Earnings» 2009
New Media explored at Tourism Society event
First 100 Agents to register for ASTA’s IDE at THETRADESHOW receive complimentary Turkey tour
Economic downturn continues to weaken Tourism Industry in the USA
Universal Travel Group appoints new chief financial officer and audit committee chair
Michel Couturier of MCIntl becomes first allied member to earn Certified Destination Management Executive designation
Sharjah Chamber announces budget of AED 10 million for "Sharjah Ramadan Festival 2009"
Media One Hotel to offer 200 career opportunities across management and operations levels
Etihad Airways and American Airlines codeshare gains approval
New roles for Rydges Hotels and Resorts managers
Juhani Sotka appointed as area General Manager for Rayong and Koh Kood
Small Luxury Hotels of the World named ‘Hotel Brand Management Company of the Year’
Connections introduces new European itineraries in its 2010 Programme of Elegant River Cruises
Elegant Ireland spreads Irish pride to US travellers with comprehensive tourism website
NBTA enhances CSR Toolkit with emerging concepts
Family Travel Forum and Teen Ink partner to promote teen literacy
Denver International Airport plan to build solar project to power its fuel facility
Egyptian Tourism Group TRAVCO Acquires Steigenberger Hotels
Mobile Marketing, Distribution Is Here
Taj Debuts VivantaIn The Maldives
Cornell: Security Features Inconsistent
Hanley To Lead US Hotels Expansion
Supply Growth To Stifle U.S. RevPAR In 2010
Westin Launches Sleep Hot Line
Hotel Security: The Costly Errors
Demand Decline To End In Q2 2010—PKF
Booking Pace Is Accelerating
Video: Cosslett Discusses IHG's Second Half Outlook
More Americans Planning To Travel
Blackstone Denies Hilton Breakup Planned
Mexico Tourism Has Long-Term Strength
Caribbean Hotel Profits Hit Hard
U.S. Recovery Slow In Coming: STR
Hyatt To Go Public
Taj To Virgin Gorda For Caribbean Debut
Hotel Management Study finds safety and security features differ by location, age, and price of Hotel
American Express business travel launches new research practice
Travel industry embraces .travel and reaps the benefits
Visitbritain appoints Joss Croft as Regional Director for Europe
Stay green - guilt-free travel with Design Hotels
American Airlines continues its high-flying domestic expansion
Special promotions lined up to make Al Hamra Mall a focal point of Ramadan observance in Ras Al Khaimah
Movenpick Hotels & Resorts opens new Tala Bay property
Pink Sands Resort in The Bahamas announces Mark Kitchen as General Manager
Blanchard named CEO of deSter
Sandos Caracol welcomes guests to revitalized eco property with launch of free eco tours
The Sandalwood welcomes guests from Middle East
New Executive Chef brings world of experience to Movenpick Hotel Saigon
Bid to capitalise on tourism marketing power of Thai cuisine
Outrigger in Asia announces two senior appointments
New Distribution Management Tool connects directly to expedia
NBTA Technology Committee releases new online booking tool
ARINC supports the opening of Cairo Terminal 3 with 14 advanced airport systems installed and running
Crown Prince of Brunei launches new tourist attraction
Video: Recovery 18 Months Away, Preferred Hotels CEO Believes
Dusit, Bird Group Expand In India
World's Most Expensive Hotel Suites 2009
Usher's Pricey Passion For Fashion
Will A Whisky Ban Hurt Scotland?
Zebra-Print Ponyskin Clutch, Handbag of the Day
Hotel Beds Go On Sale
Lindsay Lohan Robbed In Hollywood
Johnnie Walker Black Label 100th Anniversary Bottle
Georgian In San Francisco, Estate of the Day
Vacheron Constantin Malte Moon Phase Power-Reserve Watch
The Bentley Continental Supersports Makes Algae Go Really, Really Fast
Spielberg Spotted at OPTYX by gruen in the Hamptons
Will Dubai Drivers Wear Gucci Seatbelts?
Keyshawn Johnson's Big Home Improvement Bills
Conde Nast Traveler's "Gold List"
Marni Alpaca Tote, Handbag of the Day
Your Own Private Beach Cabana
Argentina Puts Wine On Ice
Moving Up In The Hollywood Hills, Estate of the Day
Is Apple Fifth Avenue's Top Destination Retailer?
Kenny Chesney's New Fashion Line
Gresso Gets into the Race with Carbon-Fiber Grand Monaco
Citroen Releases New Premium DS3
Bonhams To Hold Big Sales At The Venetian In Las Vegas
King Fahd International Airport managed sees 7% traffic growth
New Gulf Air Chief Executive officially announces review to define airline’s future business model
Religious tourism in KSA expected to generate USD 7 billion in annual revenues, stimulate overall growth of tourism sector
Live the life of luxury in Dubai’s designer hotels
Steve Jones accepts role of General Manager at the Cotswold Water Park Four Pillars Hotel
New business network partner joins Etihad Guest loyalty programme
Adventura launches new website to support re-Brand
New winter schedule offers greater flight frequencies
Emerald Point Marina remains open despite low lake levels
Cornell's School of Hotel Administration partners with HVS on South American Hotel & Tourism Investment Conference
Maserati Releases New GranCabrio Ahead of Frankfurt Show
Perrelet Watch Event At The Lussori Store In Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA
WTTC launches 'Call for Entries' for 2010 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards
Travel Daily News to launch online business TV service courtesy of yBC.tv
Pegasus Solutions launches industry data reports
NBTA Convention will result in economic impact of $330 million over five years
Virgin Atlantic becomes first airline to implement joint e-ticketing with Eurostar
Sandals Resorts purchases Four Seasons In Great Exuma
Abu Dhabi Airports Company honours summer student ambassadors
Four Star, Five Star, Does It Matter?
Luxe Links Around The Web, 08/26/09
Christie's To Store Fine Art In Brooklyn
Scott Storch Finally Loses His Miami Home
Absolut Chooses The Flavor Of Boston
Anybody want a X-Bow? Track Toys Sitting Unsold at Austrian Factory
Lexus Scrambles to Meet Demand for New Luxury Hybrids
$600,000 Violin left in NYC Taxi-Cab Returned to Korean Prodigy
Marni Pierced Wool Bag, Handbag of the Day
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Meet HENK, the $20,000 Suitcase
Isleview Place, Estate of the Day
Ernst Benz Chronoscope Limited Edition Watch For John Varvatos
Diamond Jewelry Rentals For Thrifty Brides
Sandals Picks Up A Four Seasons Resort
Green Awareness Up, But Travelers Unwilling To Pay Extra
Ancona Launches New Flagship ISA 120 Megayacht
Chocolate High Tea in Cape Town
Luxist Drives the 2009 Mercedes-Benz G550, and it Makes Us Glucklich
Bovet Trilogy Three-In-One Watch For Only Watch 2009
The Aston Martin One-77 has Overdosed on Low and Mean
Chinese travellers’ love to surf the ‘Net
Singapore concluded new Open Skies Agreement
Corporate Travel Professionals gather in San Diego to discuss industry advancement
Singapore chosen as host to new chanel concept boutique
Utell® Hotels & Resorts Sees a Further 35% Increase in Number of Hotels Accepted into Global Corporate Travel Programs
Liverpool awarded key green business tourism award
Rotana Opens the Al Marwa Rayhaan in Saudi Arabia
Travel Indochina nominated for Responsible Tourism Awards 2009
New appointment at Sunset Resorts Jamaica
American Airlines Admirals Club Lounge continues 70th birthday celebration
Egencia introduces powerful new package of solutions
Mary J. Blige and Gucci Partner On Charity Watch
Mini Celebrates 50th Anniversary with Coupe Concept
New York City's Skinniest House On The Market
Usain Bolt Shops for a Ferrari
TechArt Offers New Enhancements for the Porsche Cayman & Boxster
Valentino Paillette-Embellished Tote, Handbag of the Day
Whisky Collection Of Over 3,000 Bottles To Go Up For Auction
Top Class Turboprop: The Daher-Socata TBM 850
The Television Easel from Restoration Hardware
Franc Vila Fva15 Column Regulator Automatic Watch
Royal Plaza On Scotts Creates Bread Racer
The Spelling Manor Listing Goes Live
Emanuel Ungaro 'Very Hot' Clutch, Handbag of the Day
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Montauk Modern, Estate of the Day
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Loew's Santa Monica Eco-friendly Spa has Soothing Rewards for Guests and Locals
Christopher Guy Coming to Beverly Hills
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Fine French Restaurant In Toronto Shutting Down
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Africa Travel Association announces renewed partnership with World Religious Travel Association
CSR and sustainability in the tourism supply chain
American travelers more familiar with 'green travel' but unwilling to pay more to support it
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Air Europa introduces new routes
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Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises announce Environmental and Innovative Ship of the Year Awards
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British Airways celebrates 90th anniversary
Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London redefines "Flexible" Meeting Space
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Frans George Richardson name commissioner of tourism for Dutch St. Maarten
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Ethiopian Airlines Journeys partners with Redskins Radio Network
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Brian Bosworth in Malibu, Estate of the Day
Louis Vuitton Ladies Tambour Diver Watch
Montana Sapphires To Be Auctioned Off For Special Olympics
Open Table's Top Restaurants With A View
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Domaine De Luxe, Luxury Rentals In Europe
Rare Galileo Text Up For Auction
Groucho Marx Estate, Estate of the Day
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Keith Haring Domino Set by Vilac
The Estate Sale Of Elizabeth Colyear Vincent
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Kim Kardashian To Be the Newest Celebrity Scent Seller
Gunmetal Zuma Satchel, Handbag of the Day
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Pre- David Yurman Belt for Raffle, Luxist Exclusive
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Post Falls Contemporary, Estate of the Day
Peter Speake-Marin 1in20 QP Limited Edition Watch
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9ff Announces Limited Run of GT9-R Convertibles for the UAE
Holland & Holland by Overfinch: The World's Most Luxurious Range Rover
Maui Prince Hotel Facing Foreclosure
Betting On The Next Ferrari Model's First Crash
Ramsay Proteges Fare Better Than Ramsay In London Restaurant Survey
Banking On The Bellagio Brand
Lexus Celebrates Twenty Years of Luxury Automobiles
Major Charlotte Construction Project Stalled
Russian Polonsky Eating His Words
Britain’s great res-cape
The world of ambiguous airports
Trafalgar Square top of tourist trail for foreign travellers
Phuket luxury villa transactions THB 3.5b. in H1 2009
Regal expands in China with 5-Star deal in Shandong
Etihad to open new premium lounge at London Heathrow
Celebrity Cruises introduces 'Celebrity Select' flexible dining option
TRAVCO Group International Holding acquires Steigenberger Hotels AG
Premier Holidays’ magix quarter
YooTravel becoming top budget travel site in UK
Hotel Indigo opens property in Durham, NC
Exclusive offer for Air Miles members at Abela this Ramadan
ARTA and ARTA Canada meet with United Airlines
Greece seeks investors for 1 bln eur Crete airport
Fairmont Hotels raise funds for California “Save our Parks” campaign
Wizz Air rescues SkyEurope passengers
Celebrate Oktoberfest in... Prague
Warner Leisure Hotels lays foundations for expansion
Alvear Palace Owners To Expand 'Brand'
Vietnam’s Visionaries: Indochina Land
Are You Prepared?
W Hotels Unveils the Future of Luxury Suites
Daring Diners: British travellers favour local fare over ‘Full English’
Zambezi Airlines signs content agreement with Travelport GDS
RCI Research Measures UntappedTimeshare Resort Supply, Demand
Heffner Performance Lamborghini Murcielago Twin-Turbo
QLOCKTWO Spells the Time
Luxury Golf Cart Seating Provides A Cushy Ride
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Salvatore Ferragamo Mini Vara Capra Shoulder Bag, Handbag of the Day
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Heffner Performance Lamborghini Murcielago Twin-Turbo
The Classicist: Cruise like J.P. Morgan in the Corsair Nero for $105 Million
Learn to Ski or Board in North Lake Tahoe this Winter
Lotus Welcomes new CEO with new Special Editions
Hotels.com reveals literary faux pas for holidays
PhoCusWright projects 17% Asia Pacific online travel growth
Travellers optimistic about 2010 holiday plans
BU Professor elected as youngest member of International Tourism Academy
OMA and NH Hoteles open new hotel in the Mexico City International Airport
Business "booming" as gay travel moves into Brighton
Astudo Hotel & Resort Group's innovative campaign
Vi-Spring beds specified on-board Princess Yachts
Air France to offer employees a voluntary redundancy plan
Tropical Sky expands down under - With tours and holidays to Australia
Agoda and Frasers Hospitality Pte Ltd announce online partnership
LAN remodels Mistral VIP Lounge in Santiago
Fairmont Le Chateau Montebello opens new conference / meeting facility
ZUJI Australia removes online travel booking fees
Focus Hotels appoints Travel PR Specialists Bacall Associates
Brazilians ready to explore the Cape
Pegasus Airlines’ new-look website flypgs.com
Experient and CMC form strategic partnership
Jet2.com launches new Blackpool to Jersey link
Royal Caribbean International announces diverse retail lineup
Accor remains firmly committed to expansion in India
Aloft Dallas downtown opens in a revitalized former railroad depot
Expedia reinforces its commitment with its partners through the supplier summits
Air France KLM leads Dow Jones Sustainability Index Airline Sector
SWISS teams up with The Peninsula Hong Kong
Review: 2009 BMW 335d, Performance and Fuel Economy
Daymond John On The Future of Bling
$28 Million Superjet Made in Siberia
Accidental Destruction of Banksy Art
Messy Divorce Leads To Listing Of Kiddington Hall
Will A Beatles "Butcher Cover" Sell For A Price Set By John Lennon?
Sally Hershberger Intros Luxe Layers Hair Stying Gel
Keep in Tune with the Novitec Rosso Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano
Alfa Romeo Says It's All in Your Jeans
Calling All Cognac Experts, Answer This Question
Get Used to Shorter Spa Treatments (for Now)
Valentino Buisson Rose Tote, Handbag of the Day
The Unique Collections Of Severin Wunderman Up For Auction
Vincent Van Gogh Dutch Caramel Vodka
A Hundred Years of Men's Style
St Pauls, Estate of the Day
Dior Christal Tourbillon Diamonds And Rubies Watch
Queen's Silver Jubilee Chess Set from Geoffrey Parker
Italian Crystal Lighting from Masiero
European hotel prices increase for the first time since May
Hotels.com loyalty study shows many programs fall short
Hurricane season peak day approaches
ACTA encourages Air Canada to continue recognition of the agencies value
NTA and IATO form partnership
Inaugural Gulf Air flight arrives in Baghdad
Air Miles unveils bonus air miles campaign
Barcelo Hotels & Resorts joins the Choice Privileges Rewards Program
Classic British Hotels implements RTSuite to manage online sales
Eight Hotels has launched Eight Residences
Etihad Holidays launches Eid breaks programme
Iceland Express increases its London schedule
Hotels.com partners with WeddingBook
Ryanair raises fee charges for check in bags and sports equipment
Cyprus Airways goes live with Mercator’s CRIS
Rin Grand Hotel, Bucharest : 250 rooms to be turned into office spaces
Quest Apartments to add $6m. a year to Mackay economy
Tourism Portfolio expands into Africa
Greys of London entered into a business partnership agreement with WEA
The ‘world’ of meetings and incentives choose to exhibit at EIBTM 2009
Mediterranean’s newest luxury resort Borgo Egnazia Hotel-Villas-Golf-Spa
The UK’s only LGBT travel publication goes quarterly
Warner Leisure Hotels is awarded four stars and rosettes by the AA
Four Seasons Launches Online Lifestyle Magazine
The Fashion Statement: Hoof It
Lexus Teases new LF-Ch Concept Hybrid Premium Hatchback for Franfurt Show
Robert Isabell Auction
Mercedes-Benz to Unveil Vision S 500 Plug-in Hybrid Concept in Frankfurt
Forbes' List of 'Billion Dollar Donors'
Au revoir, Cafe des Artistes
Leibovitz Deadline Passes, Nothing Happens
Unique Tax Changes for the Rich in Connecticut
Kirkland Ranch Winery Has A New Life As A Custom Crush Facility
McLaren Unveils All-New, All-Conquering MP4-12C Supercar
Stay At The Wynn, Play In The Sky
Mercedes' latest Flagship Supercar SLS AMG Appears Online Ahead of Frankfurt Debut
Madoff Yachts To Be Auctioned Off
BMW Catching up to Lexus in Luxury Car Sales
Fendi Peek-A-Boo Tote, Handbag of the Day
Leica Unveils Next Generation M9 & X1
Ritz-Carlton Atlanta Celebrates Its 25th With Redesigned Foyer, Lobby & Lounge
Mackage Opens First Retail Store, Chooses NYC
Dilling House, Estate of the Day
Airlines all over the globe post big ancillary revenue gains
?ow Americans plan to vacation this year
Airline on-time performance improved in July 2009
Off Piste and Avalanche Awareness Tour returns to the UK
Geotourism makes its mark on Portugal
New campaign to promote the Azores Islands
Disruptions and cancellations on the Jet Airways network
IHG opens its second hotel in Vietnam
Seven Barcelo Resorts in Mexico attain Green Globe Certification
St. Maarten attracts meetings & conferences
Harbour Hotel & Residence in Dubai joins Marriott International portfolio
ebookers.com launches innovative hotel functionality
Thomson launches excursions website
Air Arabia and Travco Group to launch new low cost carrier in Egypt
Corporate travel leaders gather in Canberra
TUI Travel chief in hot seat at WTM
The Siegel Group acquires distressed St. Tropez Hotel in Las Vegas
First delivery of luxury Phoenix CRJ
Moscow's Iconic Hotel National joins the Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts
South african airports get set for FIFA World Cup 2010
Vacation.com honored with two travel weekly 2009 Magellan Awards
AVIAREPS appointed by CheapTickets.de
TCEB - Bring Thailand as the best exhibition destination of ASEAN
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Istanbul Tourist Areas SafeDespite Flooding
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Spain Suffers More Than European Neighbors
IHG Launches Price Optimization Module
Betsey Johnson To Design Plaza Suite
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The Search For Missing Moon Rocks
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Maltese Falcon Wins Perini Navi Cup
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Price Collier Estate, Estate of the Day
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Nikki Beach Turks and Caicos Closes
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Guardia de Corps first member centre in Spain to join HCCE
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Luxist Drives the 2009 Mercedes-Benz G550, and it Makes Us Glucklich
Luxist Drives the 2009 Mercedes-Benz G550, and it Makes Us Glücklich
by Jonathon Ramsey Aug 26th 2009 at 9:02AM
The Mercedes G550 is an unlikely niche vehicle. As with perhaps every other
military-derived civilian 4x4, it's a box on wheels, all straight lines and
fender flares. Yet unlike most other military-derived civilian off-roaders, it
comes standard with solid axles front and rear, three electronically locking
differentials front, center, and rear, and, get this, heated rear seats. Celebs,
trendsters, and the generally rich keep it in the public consciousness. When
Mercedes decided to kill it, a general uproar caused them to belay the order. It
costs $100,250, and has no options. Before we drove it, we didn't know why
people dug it. After driving it, now we do: it is colossally fun.
There is little about the Gelandewagen that one could call attractive. There
are no "lines" of the variety that make aesthetes coo. The fender-mounted turn
signals strike us like carbuncles. From the front, the Xenon headlights framed
by the chromed bumper guard make it look studious, like a warthog wearing
glasses. Without even the rounded lines of the Range Rover – another tall and
stupendously upright vehicle – the G550 looks like it is always at attention
and will never be at ease. If anything, the attempt at sleek in the rake of the
windshield (which does form a nice bodyline that runs all the way to the front
wheel arch) only stands out as an absurdity against the perpendicularity of the
rest of the vehicle. If we were a product planner looking at the rear of the
vehicle, our first question would be, "We're going to sell that? To civilians?"
Still – and we'll be the first to admit that this is this blogger's personal
view – the G550 is not unattractive. In fact, it actually seems to transcend
the idea of attraction at all; it is simply the ultimate in pragmatism. Crampons
aren't beautiful, but they are wonderfully useful. Tubas aren't beautiful, but
they can make wonderful noises. A Porsche key fob isn't beautiful, but it can
make wonderful events happen on any given night.
Likewise, the G550 isn't exactly beautiful, but it can do wonderful things.
Number one among them: it's nothing but fun to drive.
As soon as we got in, we were all smiles. Why? Because -- and Mercedes might
shoot us with a Heckler & Koch for this – the seating position takes us back
to being behind the wheel of our favorite old pickup truck. The G550 is bolt
upright and close; there's plenty of room, but the cabin isn't spaced out like
it is even in current trucks. Everything is a flick away: you roll down the
giant windows and slide back the giant sunroof, rest your left elbow on the
door, rest your right wrist on the steering wheel, and cruise the streets like
an urban cowboy with in a leather-lined chariot with 610 watts of 5.1-channel
audio gold pumping out the latest T.I.... or Rhinestone Cowboy, if that's how
you roll. We had fun, fun, fun, until Mercedes took the G550 away.
What's wrong with it? Well, technically, nothing, since the G550 is a niche
vehicle that sells not even 3,000 units a year. It's like asking 'what's wrong
with the Bugatti Veyron?' If you have the dosh to throw $100,250 at an
eight-cylinder brick, then you've got at least four other cars that can check
off all the necessary luxury boxes. And that's not including the rides stored at
your villa in Mallorca.
But if we must compare, we'll say that the design of the G550 is all over the
place. It's best not to think of the G550 as a dated military-derived SUV but as
a dated military vehicle with some consumer concessions. It's silly tall, but
the door handles are way down low. It has a giant windshield, but tiny
windshield wipers, like the arms on a Tyrannosaurus Rex. If you want to hear the
sound of small-caliber gunshots, close the doors; it's an undamped explosion of
metal-on-metal. Mercedes' typical Rube Goldberg multiple cupholder contraptions
are replaced by a single cupholder and a bunch of netting elsewhere.
Other than the windshield, the vehicle is utterly vertical and this leads to a
woeful degree of reflections. Given the cover of night to play with, light
bounces so freely around the cabin that when we had our Blackberry in the center
console behind the gearshift, buried deep between the front seats, we were
distracted by the flashing light of the phone on the driver's side window
because it was bouncing off the windshield.
None of that matters, however, and for the same reason that you don't nitpick
the foibles in a K10 Chevrolet Blazer or an International Harvester Scout: it's
a hoot to drive. The steering wheel is meaty and the steering is direct enough,
even at highway speeds. The 5.5-liter V8 has gumption aplenty: 382-horsepower
and 391 lb-ft of torque – this is a 5,510-pound vehicle that can lope to 60
mph in six seconds. The seven-speed auto kicks down quickly, and a massive lump
of torque is available from just 1,000 rpm which keeps hunting and lugging in
check. The suspension compromise – on-road civility forced to share a bunk
with massive off-road prowess – is just as refined as you'd get on the Land
Rover Range Rover or Lexus LX570. We wouldn't recommend an autocross, but the
G-Wagen will take the occasionally surprising highway curve at speeds that get
your attention and the attention of the people in the next lane.
And when you're finished with all that practicality, there's the backup camera
(black & white, though) and reversing radar, the heated windshield, the heated
and cooled front seats, the heated rear bench with two settings and a ton of
room in the back for what doesn't appear to be a large vehicle, the iPod
integration, the COMAND control system, 12-volt outlets everywhere, and all that
Mercedes-ness. And there's that Harmon/Kardon stereo assisted by the fact that
the G550 is nothing less than a big sound box.
We didn't get a chance to take the G550 off-road, but with proper
four-wheel-drive and a 30-year pedigree of German military service we'd be given
to thinking it can do the business. YouTube videos seem to point in that
direction. However, we do hope to correct the omission ourselves, perhaps with a
trip to Bolivia... or the center of the Earth.
If, for some reason, you "need" more, step up to the G55 AMG. With 500
horsepower and 515 lb-ft, it shaves 0.6-seconds off the run to 60 mph. That's
about the only difference, and it will cost you $19,000, but again, if you're
hunting this kind of game, the last thing you're worried about is having to
bring a little more ammo.
But for the "rest" of you, the G550 should be a thoroughly satisfying. Buckets
of fun and go anywhere goodness, it is also the only way we can think of to
channel Johnny Paycheck, the plutocrat, the paramilitary, and the Pope all at
one time. And if that's not worth $100K, then what is?
Tags: G-class , G-klasse , G-wagen , G-Wagon , G550 , Gelaendenwagen , Mercedes
, mercedes g550 , MercedesG550 , wheels
Filed under: Wheels
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