Mercedes-Benz has begun phasing out the short-wheelbase G-Class - which is why, when the company’s top beetle-crusher was reintroduced into the South African market just a few weeks ago, we got only the long-wheelbase derivatives.
But, although there's been no official word from Stuttgart, the lunatic fringe are saying Daimler is considering giving the three-door Gelandewagen one last hurrah, in the shape of a limited-edition G65 AMG.
The current top G is the G55 AMG, motivated by a 5.5-litre V8 rated at 373kW and 700Nm - which will take this built-like-a-brick-outhouse bundu-basher from 0-100 in 5.5sec and on to 210km/h - and which sells for a wallet-bashing R1 840 060.
The G65 would come with AMG's superlative six-litre V12, tuned in this application for 450kW and 1000Nm, say the bloggers. Production would be limited to 200 examples, priced at about €220 000 (R2.17 million) ex factory.
If the rumours are true, 4x4 enthusiasts the world over will mourn the passing of one of the all-time great off-roaders - but it will certainly go out with a bang!