Swiss army to order Mercedes G-Class SUVs

Jul 15, 2013, 6:01am ET

The army\'s G will pack a diesel-burning straight-six.

Switzerland's army has announced that it wants to replace its aging fleet of Puch off-roaders with more modern Mercedes-Benz G-Class SUVs. The army is waiting to get the Parliament's approval before it places an order.

Mercedes-Benz was one of four automakers that replied to the Swiss army's call for offers. What the other three vehicles were is not known, but the Geländewagen came out on top thanks to its robust, time-tested design, and because low-spec models are largely free of electrical gadgets. Furthermore, the Swiss army already has a number of Puch and Mercedes G-Classes in its fleet so its soldiers are familiar with the way the off-roader operates.

All G-Classes sold new in the United States are powered by potent gasoline-burning engines but the Swiss army's trucks will utilize a diesel-burning 3.0-liter CDI straight-six mill that makes 184 horsepower and 295 lb-ft. of torque. Power is sent to all four wheels via a manual transmission.

Although it's been on the market since 1979, the G-Class is still a popular vehicle in armed forces around the world. Australia, Denmark, Canada, Mexico and Mongolia are among the over 30 countries that still use G-Class SUVs in their armies.