After seven years of production, the second-gen Mercedes-Benz G-Class is finally dropping its top. The German marque teased the news on social media with the image of an upcoming G Cabriolet, resurrecting the name and form of the convertible G-Wagen as it’s been known since the late 1990s.

Better yet, Mercedes confirmed to Car and Driver that open-air version of its luxe utility vehicle will be available in “almost every market in the world, including the U.S.” While Mercedes most recently offered a softtop convertible G-Wagen in 2018 as a farewell to the long-running first-gen Geländewagen in 2018, it was a special-edition Maybach G650 Landaulet limited to just 99 examples that was estimated at the time to cost over $500,000.

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As Hagerty points out, the front of the G Cabriolet teased by Mercedes appears almost identical to that of the standard G-Class, and there are four doors—for at least the cabrio’s initial comeback, it seems there won’t be a two-door option. The style of roof, be it a soft top or folding hard top, can’t be discerned.

While fixed-roof first-gen G-Wagen hardtop auction prices range from around $30,000 to upwards of $200,000 for the very best examples depending on model year, the highly coveted Cabriolet variants—particularly two-door variants—routinely fetch six figures. Earlier this year, a 2013 Mercedes-Benz G Cabriolet that was originally delivered new to Abu Dhabi in the model’s final year of production fetched $286,000 with the equivalent of over 40,000 miles on the odometer at an RM Sotheby’s auction. And in 2021, a 2014 G Cabriolet Final Edition, one of 200 featuring limited edition badges commemorating the sendoff, was auctioned by RM Sotheby’s for nearly $490,000.

The brand new G Cabriolet, which will likely feature the a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six supplemented by a mild hybrid engine to produce 443 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque, is expected to retail for just north of $200,000, but no one will no for sure until it’s fully unveiled at a later date…perhaps at the 2025 Munich Auto show from September 9-12.

After this year’s Sundance Film Festival, I headed into the mountains to the stealthy and uber-luxurious Auberge Resort that I’d been scoping online for months––the Lodge at Blue Sky. I first heard about it through their Macallan Whisky Yurt. Then, through a series of coincidences, the chance fell into my lap to extend my time in Utah after a family ski trip at Deer Valley and Sundance, to stay at Blue Sky for the better part of a week while I waited for a DPS Skis media ski day with Ted Ligety. 

Acura was a sponsor of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, and they loaned me one of their new ZDX EVs to test out on the mountain roads that would bring me to my new lair for the week. After passing through the main gates of the property, the winding mountain road left me doubting my sense of direction. Then I passed the massive tanks and chimneys of the High West Distillery––with whom the resort shares the property––and knew I was on the right track. The final curve is a blind one, and so the Lodge appears out of nowhere––one moment you’re on a tiny mountain road and then suddenly you’re under the giant, modern porte cochère and valet is walking out to meet you. 

I stepped through a massive door into the bright lobby with a mountain wear (and -ware) boutique, a lounge space with a chess board by a glass wall, and access to the bar and restaurant. It felt like I had been invited to a weekend retreat at the home of a tech oligarch. Owners Barb and Mike Phillips bought the 4,000-acre ranch in 2004 and transformed it into a luxury retreat that opened in 2019, and which is managed by Auberge Resorts. You still feel the fact that the ranch is at the heart of things. 

My room was one of the Earth Suites––modern structures that emerge from the slope of the landscape like rock formations, each with a private entrance and a private patio with an outdoor fireplace. These suites have doors to make them adjoin, so you could come with a group and have one big modern mountain luxury pad. With natural stone tile floors and thick wood paneling on the walls, the use of materials to mimic the earth, stone, and wood of the landscape create a sense of unity that the best architecture possesses; that rare ability of a new building to feel like a fresh idea and a timeless part of its surroundings at the same time. 

The in-room mini bar was well-stocked, everything was included in the room, and it was re-stocked daily. The bathroom was massive and had both indoor and outdoor showers. In the morning, one push of a button on the bedside table would bring up the blackout curtains and a gleaming mountainside would urge me out of bed.  

DINING AND DRINKING

Breakfast, and all of my meals, were at Yuta, the hotel’s main restaurant. The food of Executive Chef Guillermo Tellez is exciting, inventive, and refined. Mexican-born, you feel his native influence in subtle ways that add an important dimension to the menu. The wine list is extensive and earned it aWine Spectator award as one of 2024’s Best Restaurants for Wine. Yuta and the adjoining bar look out over Blue Sky’s heated infinity pool, and the mountains beyond. 

Seasonally, Blue Sky offers Guy Ritchie’s WildKitchen, inspired by the British filmmaker, which is an outdoor dining tent set in a high alpine field. The cuisine is open-fire centric, with things like native trout and elk, and produce grown on the property. Natalie Hamilton, Blue Sky’s sommelier, leads unique wine and whisk(e)y tastings throughout the property in summer and winter.

On my visit, she hosted me for a private Macallan tasting in a yurt with a wood-burning fire. Alongside a cheese and charcuterie board, we sipped inventive hot toddies, with ingredients like Star Anise, Sage, Pink Peppercorn, and fresh ginger juice. 

ON THE RANCH

After breakfast I would head to the spa, where a massive sauna and hot steam room would erase the wine from the night before. It’s one of those spas that have no red tape about guests using them whether or not you have a treatment booked. So, any time I wanted to go, I’d just call ahead, and they’d the prepare the sauna for me. Afterwards, in a chillout room with chaise lounges and floor-to-ceiling windows, I relaxed in a robe with green tea and complimentary superfood balls. 

You’ll need a few trips back to Blue Sky to do all there is to do here, but sporting clays, horseback riding, 4X4 tours, hiking, mountain biking, fly fishing, and various wellness options will keep you busy, whether you come in the winter or the summer. Even without a planned activity, it’s a nice property to explore. On one morning stroll, I saw coyotes and multiple bald eagles. 

Blue Sky shares a property with High West Distillery, and guests can book tours, or eat lunch at the distillery with a whiskey tasting. Hotel staff can drive you back so there’s no issue with imbibing. High West produces some of my favorite whiskeys, so this is no token distillery but a serious producer of world-class bourbon and rye. If you want to get off property and you didn’t bring a car, Blue Sky has a fleet of Mercedes that guests can take out for a few hours at a time. For skiing, Blue Sky offers daily shuttle service (seasonally) to their own private ski lounge in Park City, as well as shuttles to Deer Valley Resort. 

Maybe because it’s the first mountain I ever skied, but Deer Valley is my personal favorite mountain in the country. New for the 2025/26 season, Deer Valley will have 7 new chairlifts, and nearly 100 new ski runs. As part of an aggressive expansion plan, the resort has doubled their skiable terrain to a total of 4,300 skiable acres for this upcoming season. 

THE LAST DETAIL

The Lodge at Blue Sky is one of only seven Auberge Resorts properties in the Mountain West. Room rates begin around $2,700 for a one-bedroom, with all-inclusive options beginning at $3,685. The property offers tailored activities for summer and winter visitors and only closes for a few weeks in April and November. 

I took the newest iteration of Mercedes’ performance hybrid SUV on a 500-mile road trip and loved every minute and mile I spent driving it. I’m a sucker for Mercedes-AMG’s hybrid gas and electric powertrains—the extra range of an electrically augmented engine, plus AMG power and luxury inside and out, offer an experience well worth the as-tested $115,000 asking price. 

Design & Interior

The GLC63 S E in Alpine Grey (a $1,750 add-on) is stunning and makes it look even more like an ocean-bound predator than it already does, but the modern color was balanced by a Cognac-colored Nappa leather interior for a nice blend of edgy and classic. The press model I had was fully loaded with all the AMG bells and whistles—black lacquer console, ceramic brakes, high-performance tires, AMG wheels, ventilated seats and a panoramic roof, among other trimmings. My use case was going to a wedding and then dropping my daughter off at summer camp, and while the SUV is not large, the rear cargo area was big enough to hold a steel camp trunk and several pieces of luggage. The dashboard is a mix of carbon fiber and leather, with a black lacquer console as pristine as a new piano lid. The air vents are metal, and the suede on the performance steering wheel feels phenomenal in your hands. There are no cut corners inside the cockpit. 

On the outside it has serious presence, with a low and wide stance, an aggressive front fascia and grille, and track-ready AMG wheels. The black roof, black window trim, and black side mirrors contrast nicely with the Alpine Grey. And while chrome has been somewhat out of fashion on luxury performance vehicles lately, the touch of the chrome door handles reminds me why the finish will always have a place, no matter how popular matte treatments might be. It’s a sexy SUV by any measure, but only people who know it will immediately know how special it is, which I like. That said, if you crank it up in any of the sport or race modes, that incognito game is up—this thing growls like a Rottweiler. 

Performance & Experience

The AMG turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four engine is paired with a “permanently excited” synchronous electric motor. I would say that “synchronous” is the operative word here, as it marries its gas and electric power like a finely-sanded dovetail joint—you can’t feel the juncture between gas and electric. Instead, you just feel 671 horsepower and 752 pound-feet of torque, delivered seamlessly and always on tap. 

It has 2.5-degree rear axle steering, wherein the rear axle turns when you steer it to give you better maneuverability at low speeds and greater stability at high speeds. I felt it on the mountain roads as an incredible turning radius. 

Mercedes promises 31 mpg with gas and electric combined, and 20 mpg of combined city and highway mileage for gas only. Be that as it may, even without a full charge, I had well over 400 miles of range on a full tank of premium gas, and when I had both the battery and the gas tank maxed out, I got well over 400 miles of range. I stayed at a mountain house with a Level 2 charger, and I was able to run errands without putting a dent in the gas tank. Overall, I was extremely impressed by the range, especially given how incredible the performance is. The GLC63 S E is so good at harvesting energy from braking that you always have a little extra electric power helping out the performance and the gas mileage. 

As for creature comforts, the sound system was fantastic, as expected at this price. The massaging seats kept me alert for the long drive, and Mercedes’ driver assistance system took the strain off while it ate up the highway miles. My only quibble was that the touch-sensitive controls on the panoramic roof were fiddly to me and took some getting used to.

With someone else’s Mercedes in a non-track environment, I did not push the performance to its limits. I don’t think I could even if I was on a track.  But I did enjoy setting it to Sport, Sport+ or Race mode when I was pulling up to a house visiting family just to give them a scare with the engine noise. And a few times I got to test out the torque and horsepower when I went from a dead stop up to freeway speeds, and it glued me to the seatback. 

Final Thoughts

This is an SUV for someone who wants an absolute thrill of an engine with uncompromising luxury. But it’s unexpectedly practical, with excellent range and the ability to either forget about the charger or to use it every day—either way this SUV kicks serious ass. You really could charge it daily and run errands in pure electric mode, or you could not use the charger at all, and it would still keep enough power on tap to deliver on its AMG promise. The base price is $86,000 but it was $115,000 as tested—putting it into an elite tier pricewise. But by every measure, this thing feels like a hundred and fifteen grand.

From the outside it resembles the other historic, distinctively gabled manor houses that dot the Swedish countryside. However, this one contains something of a secret. Inside you’ll find the VO Vapen manufacture, a sanctuary of precision and artisanal virtuosity where privileged visitors encounter not merely firearms but cultural artifacts—“expressions of Swedish hunting philosophy where respect for nature intertwines with appreciation for timeless craftsmanship.”

Many consider VO Vapen to be the world’s finest bespoke gunsmith, and the firm creates what are widely hailed as the most exclusive hunting rifles on earth in its unique stone building—antique on the outside, state of the art within. They are masterpieces that can command over $800,000 and require up to 18 months of painstaking work to complete. Ever since master gunsmith Viggo Olsson founded the family business in 1977, their annual yield has remained deliberately limited. Only a handful of rifles yearly emerge from their workshop, each representing the pinnacle of meticulous materials melded to function and form.

VO Vapen remains dedicated to exclusive collections, limited editions, and one-off creations for those demanding nothing short of perfection. Deep-pocketed sportsmen and discreet collectors from around the world are the firm’s principal clientele, though certain hallowed names stand out among them, including King Carl XVI Gustaf and Prince Carl Philip of Sweden; Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of Abu Dhabi; Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum of Dubai; and (the late) Sultan Qaboos bin Said of Oman.

“Through our journeys to the Arabian Peninsula, we developed a fascination with the mighty falcon,” says Ulf Olsson, who leads the family enterprise today. This curiosity about falconry would eventually birth an iconic weapon, the VO Falcon Rifle, honoring both traditional Arabian hunting methods and the magnificent predators themselves. Across the continent in Poland, meanwhile, Carlex Design had also been building a reputation for bespoke craftsmanship. The firm creates extraordinary modifications for the likes of the Mercedes G-Wagon and other ultra-luxe vehicles. Upon encountering the Falcon Rifle—with its intricate engravings that took over six months simply to research—Carlex found inspiration for what would become a four-year-long project: the G-Falcon.

This automotive masterpiece features a handcrafted roof with detailed falcon reliefs delicately highlighted with gold on polished metal—what Carlex calls a “One of One” creation. Such vehicles represent their most refined work, meticulously crafted by their elite team of artisans using advanced finishing techniques like hand-relief metal and patinated leathers, as well as exclusive paint finishes utilizing their proprietary Diamond Dust technique.

Carlex’s journey began modestly in 2008 as a tailoring workshop that renovated car interiors. “We know that true design requires sensitivity and moderation,” a representative of the company says. “In our projects, three elements always emerge: cohesive design, superb craftsmanship and noble materials.” Their fascination with natural treasures—rare exotic leathers, meteorites, precious metals and woods—singularizes their creative process and led to its magnificent evolution.

Today, Carlex specializes in ultra-limited G-Wagon conversions, including their exclusive Vintage series that blends luxury with truly timeless style. Their team comprises exceptional designers and craftsmen whose experience pushes them toward ambitious goals. Each bespoke project demonstrates their commitment to distinctiveness, with materials handpicked and transformed into interior masterpieces that balance luxury, comfort and functionality.

Alternatively, the VO Falcon Rifle itself stands as a tribute to the ancient art of falconry. With scenic gold-inlaid engravings depicting Peregrine and Saker Falcons—the varieties most prized by falconers in the Gulf region—it honors creatures that captivate with their tireless flight, grace and natural hunting instinct. Olsson’s visits to institutions like the Abu Dhabi Falconers Club, Emirates Falconers Club and Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital helped identify authentic regional falcon species for the design.

“To further connect the VO Falcon Rifle to the region, we developed a unique technique using Damascus steel for the octagonal barrels,” Olsson says. “It took over a year to develop and build them, ensuring uncompromising quality and accuracy.” This beautiful handmade steel, with origins in the Arabian world, was unprecedented in its application to multiple rifle components—even the special takedown-key features Damascus steel. Combined with stocks made from premium walnut root, each rifle becomes a functional work of art.

The collaboration between these two masters of their respective crafts seemed almost predestined. “The fact that Carlex embraced our ideals of craftsmanship and precision made this partnership natural,” Olsson says. “Rarely do you encounter artisans willing to dedicate years to perfecting their vision.” The recent Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition provided a singular opportunity to acquire these two extraordinary items together.

While impressive individually, together they form “The Fellowship of Falcons”—a car and rifle duo nearly as remarkable as the predator that inspired them. The partnership has proven so successful that future collaborations are already in development. “We’re currently planning several joint projects—some highly bespoke, others more accessible to the public—which we’ll reveal at a later time,” Olsson hints.

In both the rifle and the vehicle, one finds a celebration of the falcon—a creature that hunts with instinctive precision, attacking with astonishing force through a combination of speed, power and elegance. Just as the falcon represents mastery of the skies, these creations represent mastery of human craft—a fitting tribute to both the bird and the deep-rooted hunting traditions of the Arabian world that have elevated it to such cultural significance.  

This article originally appeared in Maxim magazine’s Summer 2005 issue.

Anticipation surrounding F1—premiering this June—is hitting the rev limiter, with none other than seven-time champ and producer Lewis Hamilton promising that the Brad Pitt- and Damian Idris-led blockbuster is “as authentic a racing movie has ever been.” Mercedes, with which Hamilton won six of his seven F1 titles, is capitalizing on the fervor with an ultra-exclusive edition of its super-grand tourer.

The 2026 AMG GT 63 “APXGP Edition,” named for the movie’s fictional APXGP team, was fittingly unveiled at the 2025 Miami GP. This limited-edition vehicle, with only 52 units slated for production globally, directly mirrors the design of the APXGP liveries and elements donned by the team’s F1 cars in the film (which are actually modified Formula 2 cars). Key elements include striking APXGP Edition paint finish with hand-applied Race Gold accents, 21-inch matte Race Gold forged wheels, Race Gold interior detailing, contrast stitching on the black Nappa leather AMG Performance seats, and carbon fiber trim elements with gold threads.

Aside from the APXGP references, the cars are also equipped with the Carbon Fiber package’s front splitter, side sill trims, rear diffuser, as well as the AMG Aerodynamics package, which adds a fixed carbon fiber rear wing on the trunk lid. The AMG Extended Night Package adds black chrome to the radiator grille, AMG crest, model badging and Mercedes star at the rear of the vehicle. An AMG fuel filler cap in silver chrome with AMG lettering, a 15-speaker Burmester sound system, AMG TRACK PACE on-board telemetry, and a suspension-lifting system for climbing speed bumps are just some of the other opulent amenities offered by the uninhibited spec.

The German marque’s other tie-ins with F1 are numerous, as the real Mercedes-AMG team also provided expertise and a fleet of high-performance vehicles that can be seen on-screen, including AMG SL, G-Class, and GT models roadgoing models and even the official Mercedes-AMG Safety and Medical Cars. Not to mention, their former star racing driver has been part of the project since the jump.

“Watching Brad drive around at speeds over 180 miles an hour was really impressive to see because it’s not something you can just learn overnight,” Hamilton said of Pitt’s performance ahead of the F1 season opener in Australia earlier this year. “The dedication and the focus that Brad put into this process has been amazing to witness.”

Helmed by Top Gun: Maverick director Joseph Kosinski, F1 races into U.S. theaters on June 27, 2025. Check out the official trailer below:

If a client commissioned Rolls-Royce to trick out their Honda Odyssey, it might look like the new Mercedes-Benz Vision V. While only a concept, it’s the first example from the German marque’s Van Electric Architecture (VAN.EA), a new platform set to debut in 2026 that aims to redefine spacious vehicles, targeting the luxury segment with an emphasis on what Mercedes calls a “Private Lounge” experience.

The concept’s crowning feature is an open, lounge-inspired interior accessible by a large, automatically opening “portal”-door on the right side and complemented by an illuminated, retractable running board. Luxe materials like crystal white Nappa leather and shimmering white silk contrast with open-pore burr wood trim and integrated display cabinets, one of which contains a fold-out chessboard.

The space also incorporates a video game console, a retractable 65-inch cinema screen with split-screen functionality that rises from within the floor, a surround-sound system and seven integrated projectors—it’s essentially a mobile entertainment room that’s begging to go on cross-county road trips. The side windows can also function as additional projection surfaces, creating a 360-degree digital experience. The switchable glass technology extends to the partition, floor slats, and windowpanes, offering customizable privacy and sun protection.

Meanwhile, the cockpit of the Vision V features a state-of-the-art digital experience centered around a “Superscreen” that spans the width of the dashboard. The user interface is designed for individual preferences, providing real-time graphics and augmented reality navigation. Outside, the exterior design emphasizes aerodynamic efficiency with a sleek silhouette, short overhangs, and a flowing roofline. Notable design elements include a reimagined version of Mercedes’ chrome radiator grille featuring illuminated glass louvres and LED lighting.

If this concept is anything like an upcoming production model, Mercedes may have just made the world’s coolest minivan.

There are innumerable classic European cars that would qualify as crown jewels. But narrow the focus to 1950s automobiles, and the list shortens to a handful: the Jaguar XK120, the Aston Martin DB4, the Ferrari 166 and debatably the most iconic of the bunch: the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing.

The retro silver arrow model holds several distinctions. In 2022, a one-of-two 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe prototype set the record for the most expensive car ever sold at $143 million, a figure that hasn’t even been approached since. In its day, the Formula One-bred German coupe was the world’s fastest road-going vehicle. While the production version made those distinctive gullwing-style doors famous, Mercedes-Benz first adopted the design on the racing version three years earlier to save weight. The race cars would win titles at the Nurburgring, Carrera Panamericana and Le Mans throughout 1952 before 1,400 production coupes were manufactured from 1954 to 1957. 

One of those 1,400 is this 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing, originally ordered and delivered to a U.S. Army troop who was stationed in Berlin in May of 1956. Numerous specifications stand out, including the special-order Fire Engine Red over black leather interior, quick-release Rudge wheels, a sport suspension, and a 3.0-liter inline-six that runs racier internals and a factory-upgrade camshaft to achieve 240 horsepower. After the car passed from its owner to the current consigner in the 1990s, it was treated to a no-expense-spared restoration at the hands of renowned 300 SL specialist Rudi Koniczek.

RM Sotheby’s has more information on his efforts and the car’s condition today:

Invoices and work orders on file illustrate more than $92,000 CAD of work completed to fully disassemble the Gullwing, remediate any and all issues to the chassis, underpinnings, and body shell, re-chrome accessory trim, rebuild the transmission, and numerous other areas of focus.

An additional $70,000 USD of invoices for work performed under the care of the previous owner indicate that 300 SL specialist German Auto Repair of Fresno, California fit a new red leather interior, windshield, and side windows, and rebuilt the numbers-matching NSL engine

Today, the car remains resplendent, masterfully refinished in the model’s signature color combination of Silver Metallic (DB 180) over red leather (1079). Comparing identification numbers of the various components with those listed on the factory data card confirms that the Gullwing retains its numbers-matching chassis, NSL engine, body, and axles, both front and rear. The car’s gearbox, number 7500698, is a replacement unit from 1957. Additionally, this outstanding 300 SL Gullwing is equipped with five Rudge wheels showing date codes corresponding to the car’s time of production, as well as two pieces of fitted luggage trimmed in red leather, and a period-correct, wood-rimmed Nardi steering wheel. The original steering wheel is included in the sale.

Valued at between $1.6 and $2 million, this 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing outsold its pre-auction estimate when it fetched $2,040,000 at RM Sotheby’s Arizona Car Week in January 2025.

Mercedes-Benz has joined forces with après-ski style giant Moncler and fashion designer, music producer and creative director Nigo for a special edition “Project G-Class Past II Future” G-Wagon unveiled at the City of Genius show in Shanghai.

The one-off automotive art piece is based on a G-Class model from the 1990s that was completely restored and upgraded for the fashionable new collaboration. Nigo—who recently teamed with Nike for an Air Force III streetwear drop—reworked numerous design elements inside and out to revive the design and make it aesthetically relevant for car collectors and streetwear aficionados alike. Both the G-Class (limited to just 20 vehicles) and a matching Moncler capsule style collection are set to launch in 2025.

Much like Nigo’s PROJECT MONDO G, launched at Moncler’s “The Art of Genius” show in London in 2023, this latest artistic riff on the G-Wagon merges the distinctively quilted look of the Moncler puffer jacket with the luxe styling of the G-Class.

It features a minimalistic, matte two-tone color palette in olive green and grey, offset by exterior accents in black and gold. The SUV’s reimagined design elements include the signature spare wheel mounted on the rear tailgate, black steel wheels in a ’90s design, foldable windscreen, and a gold-colored fuel can.

The interior by G-Class enthusiast Devon Turnbull—known for his immersive audio installations—features removable “boom boxes” mounted on the convertible top linkage. Checkered seat upholstery pays homage to design elements from earlier G-Class models with accents in orange and gold.

“For me, the ’90s were among the most influential decades from a cultural and creative standpoint.,” said Nigo in a statement announcing the collaboration. “Electronic music and the hip-hop scene arose as a new expression of urban character. I wanted to integrate that vibe and energy into the design of the Project G-Class Past II Future by interpreting that legacy for a new contemporary era.”

Black exterior accents include the window frames, light metal alloy wheels and the signature bumper guard that spans the full length of the vehicle, showcasing the “Past II Future” lettering. Inside, the center console displays a “1 of 20” limited series number. All 20 limited edition G-Wagons will be delivered to customers globally in April 2025.

Celebrating the 45th anniversary of the G-Class, this new edition is based on the new G 450 and G 550. “The Mercedes-Benz G-Class Past II Future is a very special new twist on our icon,” Bettina Fetzer, Vice President of Communications & Marketing at Mercedes-Benz, said in a statement. “This limited edition is a fresh take on ’90s style and the character that’s made the G-Class a timeless favorite.”

The Shanghai event also featured collaborations from other renowned artists with Moncler, including A$AP Rocky and Willow Smith; Edward Enninful, FRGMT by Hiroshi Fujiwara; Gilga Farm by Donald Glover; LuLu Li and Palm Angels; and special fashion showcases by Rick Owens and Jil Sander.

Pitted against well-established G-Wagon customizers like Brabus and Mansory, Poland’s Carlex Design has its work cut out. “The mission of Carlex is to create and offer the world’s finest lifestyle and collector modifications for the iconic Mercedes G-Class,” the company says on its website. Credit where it’s due, Carlex’s latest custom Mercedes-AMG G63 is a frontrunner for the most astoundingly pretty aftermarket example to make the rounds this year.

This is the Carlex G63 Fiamma G-Vintage—”fiamma” roughly translates as “fiery,” which accounts for the orange body work that’s been polished to a mirror finish. As Top Gear points out, the most “Vintage” styling cue is definitely the set of 20-inch color-matched rims, which appear to have been heavily inspired by the wheels of the Mercedes 600 “Grosser” luxobarge, produced from 1964 to 1981.

The body has also been raised by 10 cm and widened by 4 cm on each side, and the interior is clad largely in white Nappa leather with orange accents, inversing the exterior’s scheme. Not many other details were given on the Fiamma specifically, other than it was vaguely designed to “shine both on the ski slopes in the morning and under the opera house lights in the evening.” 

“In fashion, similar colors are often used in collections aimed at expressing courage and individuality. Inspiration from fire in interior design results in bold details, such as accents in the color of embers, which add not only style but also energy to the vehicle,” the brand adds. “This combination of classic, elegance, and modernity perfectly aligns with current trends in both fashion and automotive design.”

If no mechanical adjustments were made from the stock vehicle, then it’s got a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 that cranks 577 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque through a nine-speed automatic transmission, though the enlarged body and heightened ride may affect performance and handling characteristics. One thing’s for sure: The G63 Fiamma G-Vintage is a rolling automotive fashion statement.

The Mercedes G-Class SUV, aka G-Wagon, began its life as a militarized off-roader before becoming an elite automotive status symbol favored by the wealthy and famous. But the aftermarket specialists at Germany’s Mansory have unveiled a G-Wagon so outlandishly opulent that it makes Drake’s convertible G-Wagon look like a fancy Jeep Wrangler.

Positioned as a “World-Class Grand Entree” on Mansory’s menu of custom Mercs, the one-of-one P900 EWB Gold Edition is covered in 24K gold, according to Autoevolution. The outlet aptly likened the build to a “gold bar fitted with wheels.”

Mansory doesn’t list many of its entree’s “ingredients,” i.e. specs and features. But we know that it’s based on the Mercedes-AMG G 63, which is powered by a twin-turbo, 4.0-liter V8 that Mansory massages and tweaks to produce a whopping 900 horsepower and 88 pound-feet of torque.

Autoevolution reports that it’ll hit 62 mph in 3.3 seconds and top out and 155 mph—not that you’d necessarily want to give it the beans and risk slapping a stray pebble into the exterior’s soft precious metal coating.

An Instagram video posted by Mansory Middle East—presumably where the car was commissioned by a multimillionaire oil mogul—featured a couple other details. The wheel base was extended by about 8 inches (hence the “EWB” in its name) and the rear doors were converted into a rear-hinged “suicide” style and fitted with soft-closing tech.

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“Step into glamorous golden luxury, much more to come,” teased the post’s caption. Stay tuned for more details.