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DURHAM, N.C. - The oldest Mercedes, the G class, is jumping on the growing pile of models at the high end of the sport-utility segment, including entries from Porsche, Lexus, Land Rover, BMW and Hummer.
The 22-year-old G class - short for Gelaendewagen in German - is new only in the U.S. market. The sole U.S. model for the 2002 model year is the 6500 with a 5-liter V-8 at $73,165 suggested retail, including a $665 delivery charge. U.S. sales begin in December. A version souped up by the high-- performance AMG division also is likely within a year. It probably will be the G55 AMG, with a 5.5-liter engine and sportier trim and suspension.
In 1979, the present G class began life as a strictly utilitarian German military vehicle, largely hand-built in Graz, Austria....