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Mercedes-AMG G63 Yachting Limited Edition Offers Insane Decadence

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The 2020 Mercedes-AMG G63 is a bit of an enigma in the auto industry. While it began as a stripped out, military off-roader, the G Wagon somehow morphed into a status symbol amongst the Hollywood elite and professional athletes. In AMG form, the G-Class produces 577 horsepower from a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8, yielding a 0-60 mph time of around 4.5 seconds. With a starting price of $156,450 combined with a lengthy waiting list, only important people get to drive a G63.

But if you do manage to nab a G63 and want yours to stand out, aftermarket tuner Carlex Design is now offering a new limited edition model called the G Yachting. This is not the first G-Class to be based on a boat, as Mercedes itself previously released the G63 Cigarette Edition with a matching Tirranna AMG Edition speedboat . But in our opinion, the Carlex Design G-Class is even more opulent.

Unlike some other tuners, Carlex has decided not to mess with the G-Wagen's rugged looks. Instead, the tuner has focused on offering lower body paint schemes (polar white or brushed silver) with an upper-body painted in satin black. Either of these two colors is then paired with the most unique styling feature, a brushed metal roof, which matches the 22-inch brushed alloy wheels.

Inside, the Mercedes G Yachting Limited Edition is offered with a choice of two interior colors. Buyers can choose between off-white leather with Alcantara or cognac leather with light accents. If we were able to choose between the two, we'd opt for the off-white for its sheer decadence.

The colors aren't the only elements Carlex has changed on the interior. The headliner, for instance, has been decorated with a glossy flower of the winds embroidery coupled with streaking lines across the cabin. Carlex has also wrapped the steering wheel with top quality leather and added wood covers, which match the wooden floor and link to the car's yachting inspiration. When you drive up to the yacht club in this G-Wagen, people will take notice.

• Special Editions

History returns to the America's Cup J Class

Four stunning examples – Shamrock V, Velsheda, Rainbow, and Svea – will race on October 7-11 in Barcelona, Spain.

Didn’t know this was still going on, though it was all the hydrofoils (AC75)

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• Mercedes-Benz
• AMG G 63 News

This custom Mercedes G63 Yachting Edition likely smells like a sauna full of cowboys

Carlex design's custom creation has real wood paneling and an opulent nautical theme.

Carlex Design makes cars you can smell. Each of the company's custom vehicles, whether it be a Yamaha V-Max or a Ferrari F12 or a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, strictly features high-quality materials that tickle the tactile and olfactory senses. Its newest creation, the Mercedes-AMG G63 Yachting Limited Edition, is no different. Carlex announced the new G-Class this week, and it features a wood-laden interior that likely smells like a sauna full of cowboys.

It's not often the interior of a car achieves Lead Image Status, but in the case of the Carlex Design Mercedes-AMG G63 G-Yachting Limited Edition, there was no other choice. Taste is up to the personal eye, but this is a rare overly done customization that works well and maintains class. Two interiors are previewed in the gallery, one light and one dark, but both feature the same central nautical theme. 

The ceiling of the Yachting Edition features striped slats with a large branded compass in the center. The slats mimic the design of the wood paneling that is seen on the floor, the doors, the dashboard, the seatbacks, and most significantly, on the rear cargo area. The wood is complemented by supple leather, Alcantara, and real metal accents. Ribbed seatbacks and door panels continue the marine vibe, as do small circles on the seats and trim pieces that seem to mimic rivets. One interior design features a nearly all-white look, while the other offers a two-tone brown and white appearance.

The exterior, though not as wild as the interior, was also customized. Much of the body is crafted from brushed metal panels, and the G63 sits on 22-inch wheels. The hood and greenhouse are painted flat black, and the spare tire cover also features a branded compass. 

The G63 Yachting Limited Edition is available now for custom ordering at a custom price.

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This Mercedes G-Wagen with wood floors is for people who can't decide between a yacht and an SUV — see inside the G63 'Yachting Edition'

• Car-customization company Carlex Design released images of its latest creation — a luxurious Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen built specifically for fans of yachting. 
• The SUV, called the G-Yachting Edition, is based on the Mercedes-AMG G63 — a twin-turbocharged, 577-horsepower behemoth with a starting price of $156,450 from Mercedes.
• The Carlex version has wood floors, tons of leather trim, and an intricate compass design embroidered in the ceiling. 
• The company also offers a yacht-themed package for the Mercedes X-Class pickup — complete with teak decking in the bed — but the X-Class itself was never sold in the US. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories .

The Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen is already a display of wealth and excess, and its souped-up sibling, the 577-horsepower Mercedes-AMG G63, is completely over the top.

But one company evidently didn't think the G63 AMG was excessive enough, so it and mashed the boxy Merc up with a yacht to create one of the wildest G-Wagens on the market today. 

The company, Carlex Design — which blings out car, plane, and boat interiors — has released detailed renderings of its latest project: an upgraded G-Wagen designed for yachting enthusiasts.

First brought to our attention by Autoblog , the G-Yachting Limited Edition — whose name gets right to the point — features nautical-themed accents that boat fanatics who can afford it are sure to love, like a wood-trimmed steering wheel, an embroidered compass design on the headliner, and wood decking throughout. 

It comes in two exterior and two interior color options, and is available to custom order now. 

See inside the lavish G-Wagen that Carlex built for "enthusiasts of luxury and marine style" below:

Customization company Carlex Design — which tricks out plane, car, and boat interiors — built a Mercedes G-Wagen specifically for yachting enthusiasts.

Meet the G-Yachting Limited Edition — a thoroughly blinged out, nautically themed SUV based on the latest-generation Mercedes-AMG G63.

The $156,450 G63 is already over the top, sporting a massive, twin-turbocharged V8 that puts out 577 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque.

But the folks at Carlex have found a way to take the G63 up a notch.

The main event is inside of the SUV, where there's wood decking like you might find on a yacht.

The interior comes in a dark and a light theme, and both feature an intricate compass design on the headliner.

Carlex says the SUV was created for "enthusiasts of luxury and marine style."

The interior has been decked out in leather and Alcantara ...

... and the steering wheel features leather and wood trim.

There's even wood paneling on the floors to complete the feeling of being on a boat.

On the outside, Carlex preserved the overall look and shape of the G-Wagen, but added some yacht-inspired touches — mostly in the form of the word "Yachting" etched into the car.

The spare-wheel cover has a compass etched into it to match the interior.

The Yachting-Edition G63 rides on 22-inch wheels ...

... and is available in polar white ...

... or brushed silver.

But Carlex's latest G-Wagen creation isn't its first foray into marine-themed automobiles. The company also sells a similar styling package for the Mercedes X-Class pickup, which was never sold in the US.

The X-Class Yachting package, as expected, includes teak decking in the bed ...

... and even on the tailgate.

There's also wood paneling in the passenger foot wells.

The interior features plenty of leather and faux-suede covering the seats, gear shifter, center armrest, and door panels.

And the steering wheel has been reshaped and trimmed in even more wood.

The package also includes some snazzy exterior upgrades like wheels off a Maybach.

The X-Class Yachting package will run you roughly $72,000, not including the price of the pickup. There's no word yet on pricing for the G-Yachting Limited Edition, but it likely won't come cheap either.

• Main content

The newest evolution of the off-road legend stays true to its origins and plays to its strengths: unparalleled off-road capabilities, unmatched on-road comfort and a unique, unmistakable design.

The G 63: A marvel of engineering that packs a punch, dominating rugged terrain or the urban asphalt with its unmatched performance and expressive character.

Published on June 26th, 2017 | by Editor

Return of the J Class Yacht

Published on June 26th, 2017 by Editor -->

J Class yachts , which reigned supreme in the 1930s, are making a thrilling comeback, with restorations, new builds and the biggest fleet the class had ever seen at the America’s Cup J Class Regatta . Why wasn’t the event broadcast, people asked. One theory was the fear of higher viewership than the actual America’s Cup.

In this report by Matthew Sheahan , he charts a return to glory for the class.

Only 10 were ever built from just 20 designs and their reign lasted less than a decade. In their day, J Class yachts were the most technically advanced and universally admired yachts in the world. They drew royalty and captains of industry aboard, while regularly pulling big crowds of spectators to vantage points ashore. But the death of a sovereign, who regularly raced one, and the threat of a world war saw them disappear as fast as they had arrived.

Of the 10 that were raced between 1930 and 1937, six were built in America and four in the UK. Three of the British boats survived, but only just, while all the American ones were scrapped.

Conceived in 1930 as a more affordable alternative to the previous generation of expensive, one-off America’s Cup yachts, now, more than 85 years later, J Class is about to hit a new high. In 2017, seven J Class owners raced their boats in Bermuda – the biggest fleet the class had ever seen ( see photos ).

Of the original examples that still existed, Endeavour was the first to be fully restored back in the 1980s. Velsheda and Shamrock V followed. Since then, all three have been newsworthy sights at some of the most famous yachting venues around the world. From there, fascination with the Js continued, but with no original boats to restore, people started building replicas.

The first was the American yacht Ranger. “When we launched her in 2003 she was the first new-build J Class yacht for 66 years,” says owner John Williams. “I have had a number of large yachts over the years, but owning a J Class is like owning an F1 car, you simply can’t go back.”

The launch of Ranger, combined with Williams’ success on the water, inspired the construction of others, including Hanuman, the modern interpretation of aviation pioneer and yachtsman Thomas Sopwith’s 1936 J Class, Endeavour II.

Indeed, it was the competition between Endeavour II and the original Ranger that rekindled interest in the last J Class battle for the America’s Cup in 1937, when Harold Vanderbilt wiped the floor with Endeavour II in a match that brought down the curtain on prewar J Class activity and the class itself.

Some owners are now even building yachts from original 1930s lines plans that were never actually constructed. Lionheart was the first– one of seven rejected Ranger models from 1936. Svea, which launched earlier in 2017 ( see photos ), is the latest example – based on an original Tore Holm design from 1937, brings the total in the J Class fleet to nine.

Over three decades, J Class fever has taken a hold at a price tag of around $16.5m apiece. They are expensive boats to run too, costing around $1.3m to $2.5m per year for a racing J. The most competitive might even have new sails for each regatta, so with a single genoa priced at around $127,000, campaigning these boats is not for those looking to compete on a modest budget. And herein lies part of the appeal.

A J Class is not simply a type of yacht – it’s a phenomenon and has always attracted the world’s wealthiest individuals. In addition to Sopwith, Vanderbilt, George V and tea magnate Thomas Lipton were among the famous owners on both sides of the Atlantic. As well as satisfying a personal zest for yacht racing, the boats drew attention that often helped develop their global businesses.

Today, many current owners are equally accomplished, whether as captains of industry, technology or the internet, but in contrast to their forebears many prefer anonymity and are discreet about their professional backgrounds. That said, they are just as besotted with what are described as the most beautiful yachts in the world. Such is the legacy of the J that many see their ownership as simply custodial, even if the boats are replicas.

Back in 1984, American writer and businesswoman Elizabeth Meyer kick started the reincarnation of the J Class when she bought the derelict and barely floating hulk of Endeavour. One of the most famous of all the Js, Endeavour is still widely considered to have been Britain’s best chance of winning the America’s Cup in over 160 years. A full restoration programme saw the yacht back afloat in 1989.

“The size and beauty of these boats is a huge draw. It is hard to make a boat look as beautiful as a J does – there is some magic to it,” says Dutch businessman Ronald de Waal. As the owner of Velsheda, he admits to being hooked on the class. “Their history is also an attraction. They all have a big provenance.”

De Waal’s involvement started almost by accident but quickly led to Velsheda’s full restoration from a bare hull and deck. “I had bought a 40m yacht that caught fire during trials, which led to me looking for another boat,” he explains. “Yacht designer Gerard Dykstra found out there was a J Class hull that had been confiscated after the boatyard restoring it ran into financial difficulties. I paid off the shipyard and the bank, bought the hull and set about restoring the boat, and in 1997, she was launched.”

De Waal is the longest-serving J Class owner and remains very active on the racing scene. His enthusiasm and support, along with Dykstra’s design expertise, have been instrumental in the development of the current fleet. Where Meyer was the catalyst, De Waal and Dykstra have created solid foundations for the class. “To own a boat like Velsheda is to own something that is irreplaceable,” says De Waal. “It’s not just about the money, it’s the history and the almost spiritual feeling about the boat and what she stands for. It reminds me of life and living, it’s that strong a connection.”

Dykstra and his design team have been involved in no fewer than six different Js, with another on the drawing board, and remain closely involved with the practical day-to-day aspects of running a J campaign. “When you step aboard a J, you are not just a sailor but a part of yachting history,” says Dykstra. “The sailing is impressive, but it’s impossible not to be affected by the sense of heritage and the part these boats have played. They drew huge crowds in their day, and today’s spectators are equally fascinated.”

While the J Class continues to epitomise all that was grand, elegant and competitive about yacht racing in the 1930s, the reality is that these boats were, and remain, challenging brutes to handle. Not surprisingly, their immense power and complexity attract some of the world’s top professional sailors.

Jeroen de Vos at the Dykstra design office is one of several staff who sail regularly on Js. “Of the 30 or so crew aboard, more than 20 need to be highly experienced sailors,” he says. “You have to work flawlessly as a team because the boats are so powerful that the slightest mistake can result in a serious situation. The level of competition is also extremely high.”

Following the racing in Bermuda, the aim of the fleet is now the 2017 J Class World Championship on August 21-26 in Newport, RI

Sharing the credit for the new wave of Js is designer Andre Hoek who has created five of the modern Js. His work has concentrated on yachts like Lionheart and Topaz, modern builds from original lines.

“The move to aluminum as a construction material has been a big step for the class and one of the key factors in their current appeal,” he says. “Originally the boats were stripped-out racing machines built from steel. Today, owners want full interiors with creature comforts and systems that allow them to cruise the boats as well. A lighter aluminium build means they can have these interiors and still float to their original lines.”

Another key factor has been the clever handicapping system that ensures equitable racing at all the events. The handicap system was originally developed by Dykstra in conjunction with technical experts at the Wolfson Unit at Southampton University, which required detailed performance analysis. Andre Hoek’s team has also spent time assessing the current and future performances of the Js, but for subtly different reasons.

“We conducted a huge amount of research with velocity prediction programs to assess the various performances of the boats, both those that had been built and those that were just designs,” says Hoek. “The result is we now know more about why certain hulls work and others don’t. We can also see which of the original designers were working along the right lines.”

The willingness and enthusiasm of owners to take their elegant yachts to the mid-Atlantic island of Bermuda in June 2017 is testament to both the continued pull of the America’s Cup and to the historical significance of the J Class.

“It’s rare for a venue to host more than a few boats, but the Hamilton Princess hotel in the centre of the town provided berthing for all the Js,” says J Class Association secretary and event organiser Louise Morton. “This created an incredible spectacle, right at the heart of the event.”

J Class yachts could not be more different from the modern, lightweight, high-speed, hydrofoiling catamarans that are the current America’s Cup boats.

A J Class has a single 41m hull, a lead keel and over 900sq m of sail. She requires around 30 crew, weighs around 150 tonnes and has a typical maximum speed of 12 knots (14mph). A modern America’s Cup catamaran is 15m long, has two hulls, flies above the water on hydrofoils at speeds approaching 52 knots (60mph) and is powered by an aeroplane-style wing sail. The boat is sailed by just six crew and weighs only 1,320kg.

On the face of it there is no comparison, yet they share the same DNA. Just as current foiling catamarans are defining new limits, the Js of the 1930s represented the leading edge of yacht design and construction, their size and loads pushing at the limits of what was technically possible.

But it wasn’t just the boats and their towering 50m masts and colossal sails that were breaking new ground; systems and technologies developed elsewhere on the boat were also helping to shape the modern era of both racing and cruising yachts. A good example is the development of electronic sailing instrumentation for information on wind strength and direction. First used on Sopwith’s J Class Endeavour II, such instrumentation soon became commonplace.

Even to this day, such technical developments have continued. “In the early 1990s, the winches on these boats were manually powered by the crews winding pedestal grinders,” explains Dykstra. “Now those grinders have been replaced with hydraulically powered winches that allow crews to handle the boats more efficiently. It has changed the game and led to more advanced systems and new sailing techniques.”

So while the enthusiasm for this classic yacht may appear to be driven by nostalgia, the boats are continuing to do exactly what they were originally designed to do – push the boundaries and create the ultimate racing machine. Sometimes history repeats itself in unexpected ways.

Tags: America's Cup , America's Cup J Class Regatta , J Class , Matthew Sheahan

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The ultimate J Class yachtspotter’s guide

The J Class is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and powerful classes of sailing yacht in the world. An original fleet of 10 was constructed in the 1930s for the purpose of competing in the America’s Cup, but in a sad twist of fate, only a few were able to survive the cull for metal during World War II. Some were later salvaged from the scrapheap and rebuilt as modern-day racers while others were constructed as replicas by owners who admired their classic lines and racing credentials. Nine J Class sailing yachts race today but could you tell an original from a replica? Could you identify which J Class yacht is which by its sail number? Here's an essential guide to the J Class fleet... 

Sail number : JK3 Length : 36.5m Year of build : 1929

With more than 80 years under her keel, Shamrock V is one of the most historic sailing yachts still afloat today having been built by Camper & Nicholsons in 1929. Her current owner bought Shamrock V in March 2016 and in the process inherited a legacy. This 36.58 metre is the original J Class yacht and the only one with a wooden hull to have survived to the present day. Her original owner Sir Thomas Lipton is remembered as the lovable loser of the America’s Cup , having unsuccessfully challenged on five separate occasions between 1899 and 1930, taking each defeat with characteristic good grace.

Sail number : JK4 Length : 39.56m Year of build : 1934

Endeavour was launched by Camper & Nicholsons in 1934 and is hailed as one of the most iconic sailing yachts in the world . Commissioned by Sir Thomas Sopwith, this 39.56 metre design was a highly rated contender heading into the 16th America’s Cup, but ended up losing 4-2 to Harold S. Vanderbilt's Rainbow . However, this is widely acknowledged to have been more down to tactics than design or performance. After spending the better part of 50 years languishing in obscurity, she was meticulously restored by Dutch yard Royal Huisman in 1989 and was most recently refitted in 2011 by New Zealand yard Yachting Developments . 

Sail number : JK7 Length : 38.5m Year of build : 1933/2016

Velsheda was built in steel in 1933 for WL Stephenson, the chairman of Woolworths in Britain, and named after his three daughters Velma, Sheila and Daphne. This 38.5 metre yacht is the only original J Class not to have been built for the America's Cup . Between 1937 and 1984 she languished in a mud berth on the Hamble River before scrap-metal merchant Terry Brabant rescued her and chartered her on a shoestring budget with no engine, mostly in the Solent but also in the Caribbean. In 1996 she was purchased by Dutch fashion entrepreneur Ronald de Waal who commissioned Southampton Yacht Services to rebuild her. Since then de Waal has raced her extensively .

Sail number : J5 Length : 41.55m Year of build : 2003

Ranger is a 41.55 metre replica of the J Class yacht of the same name, which was built for the 1937 America’s Cup by a syndicate led by railroad heir Harold Vanderbilt. Starling Burgess and Olin Stephens had been asked to produce eight sets of lines and the one selected as most suitable for the conditions expected off Newport, Rhode Island — design number 77C — was one of Burgess', although Stephens later helped with some refinements. Known as 'The Super J', the original  Ranger comprehensively beat Endeavour II in the Cup and won all but two of the other 33 races in which she competed that year. She never sailed after that and was broken up in 1941. With the design optimised by Reichel-Pugh , the new Ranger was built in steel — true to the original but unlike the subsequent modern Js — by Danish Yachts in 2003 for an American owner. 

Sail number : JK6 Length : 42.1m Year of build : 2009

The reincarnation of the 1937 launch Endeavour II , Hanuman was launched in 2009 by Dutch shipyard Royal Huisman . This 42.1 metre yacht features her predecessor’s original Charles E. Nicholson design, while the underwater geometry is courtesy of Dykstra Naval Architects . After completing the rebuilds of Endeavour , Shamrock V and Velsheda , Hanuman was Dykstra's first J Class new build project. Commissioned by serial yacht owner Jim Clark , Hanuman is named after the son of the Hindu wind god, which it flies on its spinnaker, and her regatta performances have backed up this name. She took first place at the 2017 St Barths Bucket , which saw six J Class yachts battling it out on the high seas.

Sail number : JH1 Length : 43.4m Year of build : 2010

Lionheart is based on Burgess and Stephens design number 77F, which was one of those rejected in favour of 77C for the 1937 America’s Cup. However, after extensive research by Hoek Design Naval Architects , 77F was considered to be the best set of lines for the variety of racing conditions likely to be encountered at regattas around the world today. Lionheart was built in aluminium by Bloemsma and Claasen Jachtbouw in Holland, and was launched in the summer of 2010. Her first owner's business commitments forced him to sell her and she was purchased in mid-2011 by Dutchman Harold Goddijn, the founder of Tom Tom. At 43.4 metres overall and with a stunning 17 metre overhang, she is the second longest J afloat. Lionheart became the first Hoek-designed J to hit the race course and made its debut at the Superyacht Cup in Palma.

Sail number : JH2 Length : 39.96m Year of build : 2012

The original Rainbow was launched in 1934 at the Herreshoff yard in New England after a mere 100 days under construction and went on to win the America’s Cup in the same year. However, she was requisitioned during World War II and eventually scrapped. The modern Rainbow  is an altogether more high-tech affair — built at Holland Jachtbouw in 2012 as the fourth of the new generation Js. She was built for an experienced sailing yacht owner to a design by Dykstra Naval Architects and is the first J to be fitted with a hybrid propulsion and power system. Rainbow is currently listed for sale . When heeled over, its red underside is a dead giveaway for yachtspotters out there.

Sail number: J8 Length : 42.62m Year of build : 2015

Topaz is based on an unbuilt 1938 design by Frank C Paine, the son of the three-time America’s Cup winner General Charles J Paine. Her modern aluminium incarnation measures 42.62 metres and was launched by Dutch yard Holland Jachtbouw  in 2015. Hoek Design Naval Architects, who styled Topaz inside and out, describe her as “a good all-round performer”. She was the longest J by waterline length at the time of her launch but was later dethroned by Svea .

Sail number : JS1 Length : 43.6m Year of build : 2017

The newest and longest member of the J Class fleet, Svea was launched by Dutch yard Vitters in February 2017 measuring 43.6 metres. Her design by Hoek Design Naval Architects incorporates an integrated traditional long keel from the original 1937 drawings by Swedish designer Thore Holm, which were unearthed by yachting historian John Lammerts van Beuren. However, the designers have brought the 75-year-old design right up-to-date with an aluminium hull and 53.75 metre carbon fibre main mast. As a result, Svea displaces just 182 tonnes — two tonnes less than Hanuman and six tonnes less than Ranger .

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The all-new 2025 Mercedes-Benz G-Class

The next chapter in endless adventure.

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Long live the legend.

The all-new 2025 G-Class unleashes a new era of power with state-of-the-art technology.

Built to satisfy a voracious desire for adventure, the all-new 2025 G-Class continues its iconic tradition of rugged power.

After nearly half a century, the G-Class continues to challenge the unknown with the all-new 2025 Mercedes-Benz G 550 and Mercedes-AMG G 63.

Step inside to experience the new OFFROAD COCKPIT, mission control for traversing tough terrain. Disclaimer [5] Here you get the most relevant information for off-road driving like vehicle positioning, altitude and steering angle. Disclaimer [7] And the new “Transparent Hood” function uses the 360-degree camera for a virtual view of obstacles under the vehicle. Power is a given, and the 2025 G-Class does not disappoint with a new electrified 48-volt mild hybrid engine. But there’s nothing mild about it: This new drivetrain supplies a boost of 20 more horses and 148 lb-ft of torque for greater performance and efficiency. Disclaimer [4] Cranking that monstrous power up even further comes the AMG G 63, a heavyweight champion in performance with horsepower and torque elevated to 577 and 627, respectively. Disclaimer [4]

This steel beast was made to dominate any terrain, yet its softer side lies in the extensive safety and comfort features. For the first time ever, this G-Class offers Active Steering Assist, Active Emergency Stop Assist and more, making safety as fierce as the machine itself. Plus, thoughtful touches like climate-controlled cup holders and wireless mobile device charging bring creature comforts to your journeys.

Look for the 2025 Mercedes-Benz G-Class 550 and Mercedes-AMG G 63 in dealerships later this year.

Key Highlights

• 3.0-liter inline-six engine with 48-volt integrated starter-generator (ISG) with 443 hp and 413 lb-ft of torque (+ 20 hp and + 148 lb-ft with added electric boost) (G 550) Disclaimer [4]
• Handcrafted AMG 4.0-liter V8 biturbo engine with 48-volt integrated starter-generator (ISG) with 577 hp and 627 lb-ft of torque (+ 20 hp and + 148 lb-ft with added electric boost) (G 63)  Disclaimer [4]
• 0–60 mph in 5.3 seconds (G 550) and 4.2 (G 63) (est.) Disclaimer [4] , Disclaimer [6] , Disclaimer [7]
• Estimated top speed of 130 mph (G 550) and 137 mph (G 63) Disclaimer [4] , Disclaimer [6]
• 9G-TRONIC (G 550) and AMG SPEEDSHIFT TCT 9G (G 63) transmission
• AMG Performance 4MATIC permanent all-wheel drive (G 63)
• OFFROAD COCKPIT and Transparent Hood with 360-degree camera Disclaimer [8]
• 9.5-inches ground clearance, up to 35-degress lateral stability, capable of scaling at a 100% grade and maximum fording depth 27.6-inches Disclaimer [4]
• 7,716-lbs Towing capacity Disclaimer [4]
• Three available off-road drive programs, “Sand,” “Trail” and “Rock” Disclaimer [5]
• Latest generation of enhanced Driver Assistance Systems available Disclaimer [9]

Specifications may include preliminary estimates. See your dealer for further information about actual specifications.

System cannot overcome the laws of physics, nor is it a substitute for being attentive to driving, traffic and conditions. Please always wear your seat belt. Performance is limited by available traction, which snow, ice and other conditions can affect. Always drive carefully, consistent with conditions. Best performance in snow is obtained with winter tires.

Obey local speed and traffic laws.

Stated rates of acceleration are estimated   based upon manufacturer's track results and may vary depending on model, environmental and road surface conditions, driving style, elevation and vehicle load.

Rearview camera does not audibly notify driver of nearby objects and is not a substitute for actively checking around the vehicle for any obstacles or people. Images displayed may be limited by camera field of view, weather, lighting conditions and the presence of dirt, ice or snow on the camera.

Some systems are optional. Even the most advanced safety systems may not be sufficient to avoid an accident. It is the driver's responsibility at all times to be attentive to traffic and road conditions, and to provide the steering, braking and other driving inputs necessary to retain control of the vehicle. Drivers are cautioned not to wait for system alerts before braking or taking evasive action, as that may not afford sufficient time and distance. See Operator's Manual for system operating speeds and additional information and warnings.

Burmester is a registered trademark of Burmester Audiosysteme GmbH, Berlin, Germany.

Vehicle may not be exactly as shown

European model shown

• New-generation MBUX Multimedia System with Augmented Reality Navigation system
• Available MANUFAKTUR with expanded customization options
• Available 64-color Ambient Lighting
• Burmester® 3D Surround Sound system Disclaimer [11]
• 18” – 20” (G550) and 20” – 22” (G63) wheels available in six different designs
• Up to 22.6 cu-ft of cargo Disclaimer [7]
• AMG-specific features like Performance steering wheel, drive functions and programs (G 63)
• Latest-generation multifunction steering wheel (G550)
• Available AMG Exterior Carbon Fiber Package (G 63)

The J Class has its roots in the oldest international yacht race in the world, The America’s Cup. This International Event was born from a race around the Isle of Wight, hosted by the Royal Yacht Squadron and called the R.Y.S. £100 Cup (a.k.a. One Hundred Sovereigns Cup).

Image Credit: 

R.Y.S. £100 Cup Race

Pre j class.

1929 - 1937

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Story of the J-Class Yachts:

The J-Class was adopted for America's Cup competition in 1928, looking forward to the next regatta in 1930.  The Class itself, though, dated back to the turn of the century when the Universal Rule was adopted though no J-Class yachts had yet been built.

The Rule used a yacht's various dimensions to calculate an equivalent rating in feet.  Boats of equal rated lengths could then race against each other directly without making other allowances for time or distance sailed.  Even though one yacht might have a longer length or another yacht a larger sail area, their overall configurations had to produce a rated length that met the Universal Rule for that class. Boats in Class J, more commonly today termed J-Class yachts, were the largest constructed under the Universal Rule.  The Rule actually includes provisions for an even larger type of boat, the I Class, though none were ever built.  Inquiries made in the 1930s for a Defense in the smaller K Class were rejected.

The J-Class were the first yachts in an America's Cup match to be governed by a formal design rule.  Previous defenders and challengers were only restricted by minimum and maximum lengths set forth in the Deed of Gift.  Sir Thomas Lipton, challenging in 1930 for the fifth time, had held earlier discussions with the New York Yacht Club in hopes of adopting the Universal Rule for the previous America's Cup match, intended for 1914 but delayed until 1920.  Though an agreement to use the rule was not reached for that match, the 1914 US boats, Vanitie and Resolute, still roughly followed J-Class parameters.

Building Program:

There were only 10 J-class yachts designed and built.  Additionally, several yachts of closely related dimensions, mostly 23-Meter International Rule boats, were converted after their construction to meet the rating rules of the J-Class. 

Only the purpose-built Cup yachts, though, could compete in the America's Cup.  The "converted" J-Class yachts, while acceptable for Class racing events, were not admissible for America's Cup competition.  Responding to issues that surfaced in earlier defenses, the America's Cup rules required that all boats had to be sailed to the event on their own bottom.  Some critics pointed out the possibility that the challenger might, as a result, be disadvantaged by  being of heavier construction than the defender.  In order to avoid a situation that could be perceived as an undue advantage, the NYYC eventually agreed that all America's Cup J-Class yachts would be built to Lloyds A1 standards, ensuring that defender and challenger met the same minimum construction specifications (the nautical term is "scantlings").  Most existing yachts were not built to such standards, so the Cup-eligible boats thus ended up heavier than the ineligible J's.

(The issue of challengers having to build heavier boats due to the ocean crossing was a popular, if uncertain, explanation in the British press for the long string of American victories.  In practice, a number of challengers added internal bracing for the crossing, which was then removed before racing.  And on a few occasions defenders subsequently made the crossing in reverse in search of competition following their successful defense.  The rule requiring that the challenger sail to the event on her own bottom was actually instituted in response to a super-lightweight challenger towed to the match through canals and rivers from Canada.

The J-Class Yachts

Disposition:

Conceived at the height of the affluent 1920's, the J-boats arrived during the Great Depression.  They required enormous crews, and, despite expert attention to their technical details, still broke an astonishing number of masts.  While they were in most regards the most advanced sailing yachts yet built, and they were  indeed powerful sailing thoroughbreds formed in sleek lines that can race the pulse of almost every viewer, the glorious J's proved too extravagant for their own good.  Most had very limited sailing careers outside of America's Cup.  Ranger , whose 1937 cost was upwards of $500,000, was laid-up at the end of her debut season and never sailed again.  All of the American J's were scrapped between 1935 and 1941. Most of the British J's were either abandoned or scrapped.

When NYYC sought to revive the America's Cup in the 1950s, there was a faction that favored returning to the J-Class.  Mike Vanderbilt even stated that not only would he like to see the Cup contested in the large boats, but that if so he would consider rebuilding a new Range r to the design of the original.  Still, another faction hoped for smaller dual-use yachts that could be used in offshore racing when the Cup year was ended.  With cost estimates for a 1958-era J starting around three million dollars, the impulse for a J-Class defense faded away in the face of economic pressures and a compromise was reached to sail the America's Cup in International Rule 12-Meters.

The J-Class Resurgent

J-Class rigs today are no longer built of wood or dur-alumin, but with modern lightweight composites.  Their sail technology is long past being canvas duck, and many other subtle changes have been made to make the ongoing maintenance and operation of these yachts a realistic proposition.  Still, the J-Class owners have gone to great lengths to insure the integrity of the boats.  The J-Class is self-administered, rather than governed by an outside organization as is the case with almost all other classes.  This allows the members to more easily adapt the rules in order to serve the needs of these uniquely historic yachts.

Most of the surviving J's are available for charter.  Cambria was reportedly for sale in 2000.  Endeavour changed hands in 2006 for a reported $13.1 million USD, though as her former owner Dennis Kozlowski said, "No one truly owns Endeavour .  She's a part of yachting history.''

Recreations, Replicas, and a Tender:

For decades, most yachting fans thought that we would never again see the likes of these boats again, the few survivors would sooner or later fade away, and the whole history would be reserved for books and fading photographs, but following the restoration of the surviving hulls rumors grew throughout the late 1990's and early 2000's about building "new" J's.  In 2001, all of this dock talk began to become reality:

Ranger Wooden Boat magazine, March/April 2001, described a "Dutchman" who had commissioned a new Ranger built to the original's plan.  This incredible rumor came true, and a piece of lost sailing history was brought back to life.  The new version of this "Superboat", as Mike Vanderbilt once called her, was officially launched in October, 2003. 

Designed by Studio Scanu and Reichel-Pugh, and built by Danish Yachts, Skagen, Denmark, she is not an exact replica of the original. Some would term her a re-interpretation, as a number of changes were made including greater freeboard, and Ranger 's original designers did not participate in the project.  The new Ranger first competed head-to-head against other J's in Antigua, Spring, 2004.  It took some additional adjustment after launch by her owners and designers to seek the proper trim that would make her float on her lines, an essential step in the process of being officially rated a J-Class yacht.  Visit the Ranger Website for more info.  J-Class Management is also at work on a restoration of Bystander, tender to the original Ranger .

Endeavour II An Endeavour II replica is being built at Royal Huisman Shipyard, with a planned 2008 launch date.  Gerard Dykstra and Partners is leading the project, which features a lightweight Alustar (aluminum alloy) hull and carbon-fiber mast.  See additional photo at Yachtspotter

Lionheart Based on an unbuilt alternate design by Starling Burgess and Olin Stephens II that was considered for 1937's America's Cup defender Ranger , this new boat is being built at yards in the Netherlands for an expected 2008 launch.  Lionheart will be the longest J-Class yacht when completed. See more including photos of the completed hull at the Lionheart Website and the story of sailing onboard including photos and videos Cruising J-Class Style Aboard Lionheart at Yachting World Designer:  Hoek Design Builders: Bloemsma Aluminiumbouw and Claasen Jachtbouw BV

Svea Tore Holm's unbuilt 1937 design, said by some to be faster in the test tank than any of the original boats, is being pursued by Hoek Design

Name To Be Announced In late March 2008, reports of another replica about to begin construction appeared on the Classic Boat website .  Whether this is one of the known projects, such as Svea , above, or yet another replica about to become reality, such as Rainbow , below, should become known shortly.

Rainbow In late May, 2008, Dykstra and Partners announced that a new build of the 1934 America's Cup Defender Rainbow was underway, with an expected launch date of 2010.  Read the Press Release

Other projects: Hoek Design is also studying replicas of 1930's Enterprise and another boat from Yankee designer Frank Paine.  Yankee herself has also been rumored as a new project, as well.  Earlier reports of a Ranger alternate-design carrying the name of Seawolf may have been referring to the project that has become Lionheart , see above.  Whirlwind and Weetamoe are the only two designs of the original ten J's that aren't known to be sailing, building, or under serious consideration as of 2008.  The J-Class website points out that there are 10 unbuilt J designs from the 1930's, so the possibilities for more J-Class yachts are intriguing.

Yachting World reported in May, 2003 , that construction was underway on a yacht replicating the famous G.L Watson design Britannia .  Photos showed a nearly completed hull at Solombala Shipyard, in Arkhangel, Russia, and included interviews with the yacht's owner Sigurd Coates of Norway.  The design was adapted by Cesil Stephansen from published plans.  The original designer's modern descendent company, G.L.Watson & Co., Ltd., has no involvement with the Arkhangel boat.  Little was been heard of this ambitious project for years, until the yacht was finally launched only to become subject of a financial dispute, trapping her in Russia until 2009, when she "escaped" to Norway. 

In the Spirit

A similar project to return elegant yachts to competitive racing, the W-class, was set in motion by Donald Tofias, an American enthusiast.  He commissioned naval architect Joel White to design a new class with lines evocative of famous racing yachts like the New York 50's and the J-Class.  The first two boats, Wild Horses and White Wings , were built in Maine of modern cold-molded wood construction and launched in 1998.  It is Tofias' aim that there will eventually be a whole fleet of the beautiful W-class to regularly compete against each other.  The one-design W-76 is actually similar to the New York 50's.  Tofias' long-range plans involve a range of classes including 46, 62, 76, 105, and 130.  The 130's would be nearly identical in basic dimensions to the J-class. See the W-Class Websit e .  

Additional Links: Chris Cameron onboard Ranger at Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, 2010: Photo Gallery

Web Sites of Particular Interest: The J-Class Association J-Class Management, Inc.  

Further Notes:

K-Class: The Royal London Yacht Club made and withdrew its inquiry for a K-Class challenge in 1935.  The intent had been to reduce costs, not the least of which was hoped to be a lower velocity of mast replacement, but the K-Class line of thought was rejected for several reasons.  For one, the K-Class wasn't so much smaller than the J-Class as to have clearly led to significant savings.  Additionally, no K-Class yachts existed on either side of the Atlantic while several J's of various pedigree were available for testing, training, and racing in 1935.  Also a factor was that the NYYC was already actively considering another challenge at the time the RLYC began their communication  about the K-Class and it was the NYYC's policy to consider only one challenge at a time, in keeping with the Deed of Gift.

Sailing to the Event on Own Bottom: This provision of the Deed of Gift was at times strictly interpreted to the the degree of making sure that the challenging yacht actually was under her own sail while traveling to the match, not towed by another boat.  Challengers returning across the Atlantic after Cup matches concluded were sometimes towed for convenience. Eventually the NYYC agreed at various times to permit towing the yachts to the match, particularly when conditions were light, and in 1956, for the coming of the 12-meter yachts in 1958, the Deed of Gift was amended to eliminate the requirement.

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The allure of the America’s Cup is set to be enhanced by the majestic presence of the J Class fleet as organizers extend a prestigious invitation for their participation in the upcoming event. Scheduled to take place from October 7th to 11th, 2024, the J Class World Championship in Barcelona promises to be a spectacle of grandeur and nostalgia.

Comprising three meticulously refitted original yachts and six newly constructed vessels designed to replicate the iconic hull lines of the 1930s, the J Class fleet boasts a total of nine active yachts worldwide. Among them are the renowned Endeavour, Topaz, Ranger, Svea, Velsheda, Shamrock V, Rainbow, Hanuman, and Lionheart, each bearing a storied history dating back to the illustrious America’s Cup races of the 1930s.

Grant Dalton, CEO of America’s Cup Events, expressed his excitement for the inclusion of the J Class in the regatta, emphasizing their integral role in the Cup’s rich heritage. “Seeing those boats being raced just off the Barcelona waterfront will be a spectacle for everyone on the water or watching from the shoreline – we cannot wait to see them in action,” remarked Dalton.

Stuart Childerley, Class Secretary of the J Class, echoed Dalton’s sentiments, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to showcase the fleet’s legacy amidst the prestigious America’s Cup regatta. “The boats will arrive at Port Vell and be situated right in the heart of the superyacht basin, giving spectators a fantastic opportunity to see these historic yachts up close,” noted Childerley.

The Class Association is actively encouraging J Class owners to commit to the 2024 event, with five confirmations received to date. As anticipation builds for this unparalleled gathering of maritime history and contemporary excellence, the J Class World Championship promises to captivate audiences both on and off the water, offering a rare glimpse into the timeless elegance and enduring spirit of these iconic vessels.

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G-Class at De Valk

De Valk Yacht Brokers have several boats of the brand G-Class for sale. Also, in the past we have sold several G-Class yachts.  De Valk is a dedicated yacht broker for G-Class. Please contact us for selling your yacht.

G-Class model sold:

Yachting World

• Digital Edition

The J Class yacht Endeavour is for sale – a rare chance to buy one of the most iconic yachts ever built

• Toby Hodges
• February 3, 2016

The J Class Endeavour, Britain’s worthiest America’s Cup challenger to date and often described as the most beautiful J Class ever, is still on the market

Arguably there couldn’t be at a better time to buy one of the most prestigious yachts ever. In recent years the J Class has enjoyed a complete resurgence ( see our J Class guide here ). The result makes for mesmerising viewing, as these most elegant, timeless classics are raced by the world’s best and regularly finish within seconds of each other. It’s like one-design racing for museum pieces.

We had the chance to sail Endeavour in December 2016 – and get this EXCLUSIVE VIDEO FOOTAGE

The J-Class Endeavour powers to windward at the 2012 St Barths Bucket

We have only seen Endeavour race competitively once in the last decade. It was fresh after her 18-month refit at Yachting Developments in New Zealand, when she stole the show at the St Barths Bucket in 2012. This showed the potential of the yacht with famous sail number JK4 in the modern fleet of carbon-rigged Js. Since then however, little has been seen of Endeavour as her owner favoured private cruising.

The J Class wave shows no sign of slowing however. There are more Js competing now than ever before. The Hoek-reconfigured J Class Topaz (J8) launched from Holland Jachtbouw in spring 2015 and Svea followed two years later.

The J Class yacht Endeavour arguably remains the jewel of the fleet.  She is the yacht that has come closest to winning the America’s Cup for Britain. Her story reflects the history of the J Class and has helped shape the modern fleet we know today.

Endeavour was designed by C.E. Nicholson and built by Camper & Nicholsons in steel in 1934 for aircraft manufacturer Sir T.O.M Sopwith. She was the only J to beat the original Rainbow and considered the most dangerous British challenger to the cup ever. On launching, Endeavour was declared ‘the perfect boat’ by someone that really knew his shapes, Nat Herreshoff.

The J-Class Endeavour in 1934, racing King George V’s Brittania

Sopwith took a scientific approach using his aeronautical experience, and the innovations lavished on Endeavour included the likes of four-speed winches, the first windvane linked to a dial by the helm, and a four sided jib with two clews and sheets, dubbed a ‘quad’.

Following a crew strike over pay, Sopwith replaced the 13 pro sailors with amateurs shortly before leaving for the America’s Cup in the states. This, together with taking off more and more ballast during the series, was largely seen as his undoing.

The J-Class Endeavour after decades in a mudberth

Endeavour sat in her Solent mudberth for three decades following the war, in the hands of a variety of owners. She was once saved from scrap and even sank in the Medina River in the seventies.

Beken’s picture shows the state she reached, a wreck with no rig, keel or interior. But it was when Elizabeth Meyer bought her in 1984, that her resurgence, and in time, that of the J Class, really began. Meyer had Endeavour re-configured by Dykstra Naval Architects, shipped to Royal Huisman and fully restored, before cruising and racing her all around the world.

J-Class Endeavour’s interior today, styled by John Munford

Endeavour underwent an extensive refit again in 2010/11 at Yachting Developments in New Zealand.  Dykstra Naval Architects was responsible for the construction, sail plan and deck layout, and Jon Barret, who oversaw the yacht’s first refit as captain at Royal Huisman in 1989, project managed the refit.

The work involved the removal of 40T of material, including 14 deck winches. The remaining winches, hydraulics, electrics, engine and generators were all replaced over 100,000 man-hours. Endeavour left New Zealand with a new deck structure, new rig and sails, a new deck layout, an engine room upgrade and a new crew interior.

Her €17.5m asking price today is perhaps typical for a J Class. But to become a custodian of a cruise and race ready Endeavour, and at such an exciting time, would be priceless.

The transom of J-Class Endeavour following her Yachting Developments refit

There are more details and plenty of pictures on Edmiston’s site here

And more info on J Class here