The most exclusive Mercedes-Benz G-class is this stretched BINZ

If you thought the G63 AMG was the meanest and most exclusive version of the Mercedes-Benz G-class that you could buy today, you haven't seen the version that Mercedes-Benz coachbuilder BINZ GmbH has been making for more than two decades. That's right, the smug owners of those G63 AMGs you see parked in front of trendy restaurants downtown do not, in fact, possess the coolest version of the long-running G-class.

BINZ is known in other markets as the maker of Mercedes-Benz limousines and ambulances, but their wares are almost entirely unknown in the western hemisphere. And since the mid-1990s they've been making long-wheelbase G-wagens with minivan-style sliding rear doors and other surprises. For a long time this version of the G-class has remained somewhat hush-hush, in the sense that one couldn't just stroll into a Mercedes-Benz dealership and expect the sales staff to know anything about it, and remained largely unadvertised.

But these are different times, and BINZ is now featuring this model on their website. And even though the two models that they offer are called the G-XL and the G-XXL, the English version of the website refers to them as the Bodyguard Vehicle. But that doesn't mean it has to be used as such.

BINZ GmbH
What does your neighbor use as a shuttle for soccer practice? A Honda Odyssey? Yeah, that's what we thought.

The BINZ G-wagens come in two wheelbases, though BINZ have offered a third variant in the past. The current XL model has the same basic floorplan as the standard Mercedes-Benz model, but the rear passenger doors have been reworked to open minivan-style. The rail is nicely integrated into the side moldings; an additional rail is built into the generous running board on this version. In the 1990s there was another XL version of the BINZ G-class that had the same wheelbase as the standard four-door G-class, but had a longer rear cargo compartment. The XL features pivoting rear passenger seats that allow the burly "passengers" to sit facing the side windows, able to emerge at a moment's notice. The sliding passenger doors not only allow for quick ingress and egress, but for the vehicle to stay mobile with the doors open.

The BINZ XXL model, pictured above, has been around for more then a decade now and is even cooler than the standard-wheelbase version. BINZ has reworked the passenger doors, as they are now completely rectangular, and has stretched the wheelbase by 22 inches, lengthening the passenger and rear cargo compartment. The rear passenger doors slide open minivan-style, and the rear side windows have been made to slide open horizontally as well. This version can carry seven people -- almost an entire middle school soccer team.

BINZ GmbH
The Mercedes-Benz G-class BINZ XXL has two rear facing seats, with enough room for seven people on the inside.

Both versions of the BINZ G-class have split rear gates, and the rear cargo compartment actually has two rear-facing seats. These trucks are made for effectiveness and versatility rather than for luxury, but since BINZ is starting out with modern G-class interiors, very little of the luxury feel of the trucks (assuming it was there in the first place) appears to have been lost in the transition to the bodyguard versions.

Equipment is fitted per customer requirements, and typically includes strobes behind the grille along with strobe bulbs fitted into the headlights in addition to removable strobing beacons on the roof. The XXL pictured here already includes a Bosch beacon on the back that is actually a rotating spotlight operated remotely from the dash. BINZ G-class stretches also tend to be fitted with sirens and PA systems, in addition to many other electronic goodies. Some of these BINZ vehicles have actually been repurposed for communications and electronic jamming trucks.

BINZ GmbH
BINZ offers two versions of the bodyguard G-class.

Even though these are referred to as bodyguard vehicles, anyone can order a stretched BINZ G-class -- though its unclear if the stretched XXL version would be importable into the U.S. since it has a different body length than the stock G-class. Civilians can keep the luxuriously-spartan interiors of the top versions of the AMG or Brabus vehicles. And with sliding rear doors, we could see these being quite handy for the school run.

As for engines, that's up to the customer, but the top 5.5-liter V8 engines from the G63 AMG are a popular choice. As for price, these start well north of $100,000, but the choice of modifications determines the ultimate cost.

So next time someone tells you that they've got the top-of-the-line G-class, ask them if its an AMG-powered BINZ XXL. We're betting they'll lose sleep when they find out they don't have the most exclusive G-wagen.

By Jay Ramey