Simon de Burton discovers why the Mercedes AMG G 63 remains the perfect blend of rugged heritage and modern luxury during four days cruising the Hamptons for The Bridge car concours – where looking cool isn't just preferred, it's essential
Regular visitors to The Hamptons will know there’s a strict unspoken rule regarding transportation: whether boat, car, motorcycle or bicycle, it absolutely, categorically and unwaveringly must look cool.
In four-wheel terms, that can mean anything from a wartime Jeep to a brand-new Ferrari, a well-preserved Citroën 2CV or a McLaren F1.
So, when Mercedes-Benz offered a test vehicle to cruise from JFK to Bridgehampton for September’s The Bridge car concours – said to be the most blue-chip event of its type – I couldn’t have been happier to be offered one of my favourite “cool cars” of all time: an AMG G 63.
This is the growling, souped-up version of the G-Wagon, a model launched in 1975 (making it the longest-running design in Mercedes’ line-up) as a workmanlike SUV combining extreme off-road performance with an interior best described as comfortable, rather than luxurious.
Fast forward to today, and G-Wagons are far less likely to be seen pulling horse trailers or serving on shoots at country estates than they are being loaded up with goodies from high-end stores in Manhattan, Mayfair, Ginza or the Place Vendôme.
These days, they are bought by those who love the combination of boxy, retro looks, their now ultra-luxe trim packages and – in the case of the AMG versions – levels of performance that belie their rugged appearance.
It’s mine for what proves to be four days of pure driving joy that could hardly have been better suited to cruising the Hamptons during car show time. Configured by the Mercedes-Benz bespoke Manufaktur division, it is finished in China Blue paint, a shade that blends perfectly with the sparkling sea, silvery sands and weatherboard buildings that are synonymous with the area.
Inside, hand-stitched leather seats in black and Catalana Beige give a reassuring squeeze whenever the car’s mighty, twin turbo V8 needs to provide maximum thrust, while the superb Burmester surround hi-fi supplies crystal-clear entertainment as we cruise the shoreline with the panoramic glass roof letting the sun flood in.
If I need further evidence that I am in the right wheels for the Hamptons, it comes just as dusk falls on The Bridge and a glamorous local couple ask me for a ride back to town.
“Do you often ask total strangers to run you home?” I queried the elegant wife.
“No, but you’re in a China Blue G-Wagon. We thought you must be a local…” mercedes-amg.com
Specs: MERCEDES-AMG G 63 MANUFAKTUR EDITION
Engine: four-litre, twin turbocharged V8 petrol
Power: 577 horsepower/430kw at 6,000rpm
Torque: 850Nm at 2,500-3,500rpm
Transmission: nine-speed automatic with manual option and AMG Speedshift Plus
Drivetrain: 4Matic all-wheel-drive
0 to 100km/h: 4.3 seconds
Top speed: 220km/h
Fuel consumption: 14.7l per 100km
Price as tested: £205,875
Specs: MERCEDES-AMG G 63 MANUFAKTUR EDITION
Engine: four-litre, twin turbocharged V8 petrol
Power: 577 horsepower/430kw at 6,000rpm
Torque: 850Nm at 2,500-3,500rpm
Transmission: nine-speed automatic with manual option and AMG Speedshift Plus
Drivetrain: 4Matic all-wheel-drive
0 to 100km/h: 4.3 seconds
Top speed: 220km/h
Fuel consumption: 14.7l per 100km
Price as tested: £205,875
First published in the December 2025 issue of BOAT International. Get this magazine sent straight to your door, or subscribe and never miss an issue.