Bentley’s first SUV, the Bentayga, is priced at US$229,100 (the domestic price starts at RMB 3.98 million), making it the most luxurious SUV in the world. Bentley Motors CEO Wolfgang Dürheimer even claimed in an interview that the SUVs currently available to consumers are not luxurious enough, and that Bentayga is their ultimate solution. However, the Mercedes-Benz G65 AMG starts at $222,000, not far behind the Bentley Bentayga. If judged solely from the price, the G65 AMG can also rank among the top luxury SUVs in the world.
The ICON FJ44 is another SUV priced to rival the two. Perhaps this brand and model are relatively unfamiliar to most people, but this does not prevent ICON CEO Jonathan Ward from taking the Mercedes-Benz G65 AMG as the pricing target of the FJ44. Different from Bentley Bentayga’s own luxury attributes, as ordinary car fans, we can’t help but have doubts about the pricing of Mercedes-Benz G65 and ICON FJ44.
So let’s take a look at whether the performance of the two cars can match the price. The Mercedes-Benz G65 AMG inherits the excellent genes accumulated over the past 30 years of the G series. The non-load-bearing body and the trapezoidal frame are matched with three differential locks at the front, middle and rear, and it can walk on the ground in any road conditions. Mercedes-Benz equipped the G65 with an AMG handcrafted M279 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-12 engine with a maximum power of 621 horsepower and a peak output torque of an astonishing 1,000 Nm.
The ICON FJ44 is based on the 1973 Toyota Land Cruiser, but after being rebuilt by ICON, it has completely changed its original appearance. The only thing left is the vehicle identification plate on the hood and chassis. Compared with the original car, the performance of ICON FJ44 has also been greatly improved. Other parts of the body were rebuilt with matte aluminum, and the chassis was performed by Art Morrison, who specializes in Hot Rod style modification.
The FJ44 Petersen Special will be on display at the Petersen Automotive Museum for the next six months. The FJ44 was powered by a GM E-ROD LS3 V-8 engine with a Magnussen supercharger. ICON has not announced the detailed parameters of this power system, but it is estimated that its maximum power is about 540 horsepower and its peak output torque is 670 Nm.
Although it adopts a non-load-bearing body structure, the ICON FJ44’s 0-96km/h linear acceleration time is only 5.7 seconds, and it can complete 1/4 mile acceleration at a maximum speed of 150km/h in 14.4 seconds. Even faster than a 2015 Subaru WRX with a CVT transmission. Since it is not equipped with an ABS system, the braking performance of the FJ44 is not ideal, and the braking distance of 96km/h-0 requires 44.5 meters.
With the blessing of the V-12 engine, the Mercedes-Benz G65 AMG’s 0-96km/h linear acceleration time is only 5.2 seconds, and the quarter-mile acceleration time is 13.7 seconds (top speed 166km/h). The braking distance of 96km/h-0 is 34.7 meters, which is very good among the models of the same level. In addition, we tested the “8” circle performance of the two cars. The Mercedes-Benz G65 AMG scored 30.5 seconds, and the ICON FJ44 took 29.1 seconds. It should be mentioned that the Ford F-350’s achievement is also “only” 30.2 seconds.
When we experienced the off-road performance of the two, we instantly forgot their poor handling performance. Of course, apart from this comparison test, I am afraid that no one would be willing to use a $200,000 SUV to challenge such harsh terrain. Both are equipped with a four-wheel drive transfer case and differential locks (ICON FJ44 has two ARB pneumatic differential locks, Mercedes-Benz G65 AMG has three front, middle and rear differential locks), which means that no matter what They can overcome any obstacle with ease.
So, do these two big guys perform in line with their selling prices? F. Scott Fitzgerald, author of The Great Gatsby, once said that rich people are different from you and me. Therefore, both ICON FJ44 and Mercedes-Benz G65 AMG can find their target consumers, and it is also a good thing for ordinary consumers to appreciate quietly.
