What vehicle has been around for more than 40 years, yet is still considered to be the pinnacle of elegance and refinement?

Paradoxically, it can also traverse further off the beaten track than most vehicles, and is regarded as one of the toughest and most durable off-roaders ever made.

We could only be talking about the G-Class: a vehicle designed in the 1970s primarily for military use. The strikingly utilitarian appearance that has barely changed since its launch is just part of what has made the G-Class – especially its most exclusive model, the Mercedes-AMG G 63 – an emblem of iconic luxury.

"The G-Class is the measure of all SUVs. We have given due deference to the character of this icon, and yet exercised puristic reduction to create the transition to modern luxury," says Gorden Wagener, chief design officer for Mercedes-Benz Group AG.

Born in the 1970s

How many vehicles launched in the 1970s are still on sale today? You could probably count them on one hand. Development work on a no-nonsense, go-anywhere off-roader started in the early 1970s, and finally in 1979 – the same year that Sony released the Walkman, Margaret Thatcher was elected UK Prime Minister, and the Skylab Space Station crashed back to earth – the G-Class was publicly launched. There was little fanfare, and certainly no hint of the exalted status it would one day command.

Its initial design was all about maximising utility and space. The solid, protruding door handles were set with a durable button built to survive heavy knocks; large square side windows and an upright glasshouse delivered excellent all-round visibility; and the tall seating position owed much to the exceptional underbody clearance.

The finishing flourish? Add AMG

Although AMG had dabbled in producing G-Class versions throughout the 1990s, it was only after the high-performance workshop had been officially absorbed into Mercedes-Benz that the watershed 2002 Mercedes-Benz G 55 AMG model emerged.

Eye-catching chrome-plated twin exhaust pipes assertively thrust themselves from beneath either side of the body, while wider tyres, distinctive five-spoke wheels, splashes of chrome trim-work and overt AMG lettering served to emphasise the most appealing aspects of the G-Class design. This was matched by the performance punch of a 260kW 5.5-litre V8.

The rugged hero, which was the antithesis of the low-slung sports cars that car enthusiasts were so often drawn to, had unparalleled presence on the trendy streets of London’s Knightsbridge or New York’s Fifth Avenue.

In the two decades since, a succession of updates has seen an array of luxurious touches added. The latest model, the AMG G 63, sports everything from nappa leather seats with opulent diamond quilting, to a multi-function sports-style steering wheel, multi-zone climate control and high-end audio and multimedia systems.

"The [latest] G-Class is setting the bar higher still in all relevant areas – in terms of performance both on and off the road as well as with regard to comfort and telematics. Our 'longest-serving' model series is therefore ideally equipped to continue its success story,” says Ola Källenius, chairman of the board of management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG.