When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
From what I can tell historically the US started with a G500 in 2002 that was a 5.0 V8. An AMG G55 with a 5.4 V8 came in 2003.
In 2009 the G550 was born with a 5.5 V8 and the G55 AMG had the same engine but boosted more.
The G55 AMG was dropped in 2012 and reborn as G63 in 2013.
So that explains why the US G550 is what it is. My guess is the US market is so number/prestige intent that Mercedes felt compelled to increase the number to G550 with the 5.5L engine and Mercedes just kept G500 elsewhere for historical reasons including now. Of course now that both cars have a 4.0L engine the nomenclature is historical here too.
PFL205.064 with M276.823 (Oil pump solenoid defeated)
Originally Posted by Hodog16
From what I can tell historically the US started with a G500 in 2002 that was a 5.0 V8. An AMG G55 with a 5.4 V8 came in 2003.
In 2009 the G550 was born with a 5.5 V8 and the G55 AMG had the same engine but boosted more.
The G55 AMG was dropped in 2012 and reborn as G63 in 2013.
So that explains why the US G550 is what it is. My guess is the US market is so number/prestige intent that Mercedes felt compelled to increase the number to G550 with the 5.5L engine and Mercedes just kept G500 elsewhere for historical reasons including now. Of course now that both cars have a 4.0L engine the nomenclature is historical here too.