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This 2026 Mercedes-AMG G63 Just Sold for More Than New—and We’re Not Surprised

Depreciation is the great equalizer in the automotive world. No matter how luxurious, how powerful, or how meticulously assembled, most vehicles take an immediate financial nosedive the moment they roll off the lot. It’s as predictable as your neighbor’s GLC blocking your driveway on trash day.

But every so often, a model sidesteps the laws of automotive economics. These unicorns tend to be low-production, high-hype, enthusiast-focused machines—the kind people don’t just buy, but hunt. And right now, the Mercedes-AMG G63 is proving itself one of those rare exceptions.

The G-Wagen That Refuses to Depreciate

A nearly-new 2026 Mercedes-AMG G63 surfaced on Cars & Bids out of Denison, Texas this month, and what happened next should surprise exactly no one who’s tried to buy one new. With just 350 miles on the odometer—basically still inhaling that “delivery truck” scent—the SUV carried a window sticker totaling $216,385.

The base MSRP of $195,550 was padded with the kind of extras that make G-Wagen shoppers nod approvingly:

  • $4,650 for 22-inch AMG wheels
  • $3,700 in carbon fiber trim
  • $8,250 for the Manufaktur Interior Package Plus
  • $3,050 for the AMG Night Package

Good luck finding that build on a dealer lot without a “market adjustment” stapled to the windshield.

Auction Drama, AMG Style

When bidding went live, attention came fast. The top offer reached $227,000—strong money, but not enough to meet the reserve. After some back-and-forth between buyer and seller, both parties landed at $245,000.

That’s $28,615 over original MSRP for a car that’s barely been broken in. Not bad for something that has only roasted a handful of tires in its lifetime.

And honestly? It makes sense. Between relentless demand, scarcity of high-spec builds, and the badge cachet that basically prints its own resale value, the G63 is the closest thing the modern SUV market has to a blue-chip stock.

Why This One Hit the Sweet Spot

If you were to spec a “resale-friendly” G-Wagen in a laboratory, you’d probably end up with something that looks exactly like this truck:
Polar White exterior. Manufaktur Red Pepper leather interior. Carbon fiber everywhere. It’s the kind of combination that makes shoppers overlook price tags and forget financial prudence.

But even the G63 can’t outrun time forever. Five-year-old examples are currently moving between $100,000 and $150,000, and this one will likely slide into the same bracket eventually. Today’s profit could easily be tomorrow’s lesson in depreciation.

For now, though? It’s a win. A nearly-new, massively specced AMG SUV sold for well above sticker, proving once again that the G63 plays by its own rules. In a market where most luxury vehicles tumble in value before they even hit their first oil change, the boxy brute continues to stand tall.

Not a bad outcome for an SUV that barely had time to warm up its twin-turbo V8.

Source: Cars & Bids

NEW CARS

2026 Honda CR-V e:HEV (Japan Spec): The Home-Market Comeback Nobody Expected

When Honda pulled the wraps off the sixth-generation CR-V back in 2022, one question lingered louder than most: Where was Japan’s version? For reasons Honda never fully explained, the brand’s best-selling global SUV skipped its home market entirely—until now. The Japan Mobility Show finally marked the long-overdue return of the domestic CR-V, offered exclusively as a hybrid and trimmed down to a laser-focused two-variant lineup.

And in typical Honda fashion, the wait wasn’t for nothing.

A CR-V Focused for Japan

While markets like the U.S. get a sprawling menu of trims—from base LX all the way to the rugged TrailSport—the Japanese lineup is intentionally simple. Buyers have just two choices:

  • CR-V e:HEV RS
  • CR-V e:HEV RS Black Edition

Honda says the streamlined approach is meant to reduce confusion and create clear value distinctions. And honestly, it works.

Meet the Black Edition: Stealth Mode Activated

Sitting at the top of the hierarchy, the Black Edition takes the CR-V’s clean design and gives it an extra layer of attitude. Crystal Black accents wrap the lower bodywork, the 19-inch wheels wear a darker finish with noise-reduction tech, and the cabin takes on a more premium, shadowy vibe with a black headliner and Piano Black trim.

Other exclusives include:

  • Panoramic sunroof
  • Ventilated seats
  • Head-up display
  • Honda Sensing 360 (an upgraded safety suite with wider radar/camera coverage and enhanced highway assists)

AWD is standard here too, because a flagship should come fully loaded.

Standard RS: Still Well Equipped

Even the entry RS trim comes with a generous kit list that would make some competitors blush:

  • 9-inch infotainment system
  • 10.2-inch digital cluster
  • 12-speaker Bose audio
  • Wireless charging
  • Hands-free tailgate
  • Heated seats
  • Honda Sensing ADAS

Buyers can pick between FWD and AWD, making it the more flexible option.

The Powertrain: Hybrid Only, and Proud of It

Japan’s CR-V goes all-in on Honda’s e:HEV technology. Under the hood sits a 2.0-liter four-cylinder paired with two electric motors and an e-CVT. Honda hasn’t released full domestic figures yet, but the same setup makes 181 hp in European models.

More importantly, the system behaves like a series hybrid most of the time—in other words, the electric motors do the heavy lifting, and the gas engine often acts as a generator. It’s smooth, quiet, and efficiency-minded, which fits the Japanese market perfectly.

Accessory Packs: Tough or Urban, Take Your Pick

Honda knows customization sells, so both trims can be dressed up through two factory packages:

Tough Premium (Black Edition only)

  • Luna Silver bumper insert
  • Rugged side skirts
  • Crystal Black roof spoiler
  • Blacked-out badges

Urban Premium (RS version)

  • Similar components, but finished to blend with the RS’s lighter cladding
  • Designed for a more understated, city-focused look

Honda Genuine Accessories will expand further with items like wind deflectors and extra exterior accents.

Pricing and Availability

Order books in Japan open December 12, with first deliveries scheduled for February 2026.

  • CR-V e:HEV RS — ¥5,122,700 (≈ $33,100)
  • CR-V e:HEV RS Black Edition (AWD) — ¥5,779,400 (≈ $37,400)

And sitting in a different league entirely is the CR-V e:FCEV, Honda’s hydrogen fuel-cell plug-in hybrid variant. It’s already available in limited numbers starting at ¥8,094,900 (≈ $52,300).

Where It Fits in Honda’s Japan SUV Lineup

Now that the CR-V is officially back, it joins the WR-V, Vezel, and ZR-V to round out Honda’s domestic SUV family. The gap it left is finally filled—and with the Black Edition leading the charge, Honda seems eager to remind Japan that the CR-V is still the brand’s global backbone.

Source: Honda

News

Winter Driving in Ohio: The Frosty Oversight That Could Cost You

Winter in the northern states always brings its usual suspects: frozen windshields, crunchy morning commutes, and that familiar ritual of scraping, brushing, and muttering under your breath. But in Ohio, those fluffy white layers on your car come with something else too—a legal nudge that winter neglect isn’t just lazy. It can be costly.

Here’s the part that catches most drivers off guard: in Ohio, it’s not technically illegal to drive with snow on your car. That’s right, the law doesn’t require a showroom-clean roof. But if that snow or ice decides to launch off your vehicle like a frozen frisbee and smacks someone else’s windshield? Now you’re on the hook for a minor misdemeanor under Ohio’s unsafe vehicle regulations. The issue isn’t the snow itself—it’s what it does once speed, wind, and gravity get involved.

Winter Hazards, the Unsexy but Serious Kind

Andy Hamrick, a seasoned driving instructor from Bick’s Driving School near Cherry Grove, sees the same misunderstanding every winter. Drivers think snow is just an inconvenience, something you brush off if you happen to remember.

Hamrick doesn’t see it that way.

He points out that snow is more than a cosmetic annoyance—it’s a hazard multiplier. Snow on the hood can billow upward and blind the driver. Snow on the roof can shear off at highway speeds and hit the vehicle behind with enough force to crack glass or block vision entirely. And all of that is happening during the worst driving conditions of the year, when traction is down and braking distances go up.

This year has already delivered a grim reminder of how fast things can go wrong: a 55-car pile-up in Wisconsin tied to winter whiteout conditions.

Ohio’s Law Leaves Little Room for “I Forgot”

While Ohio doesn’t prohibit driving with snow sitting on your vehicle, its safety laws are crystal clear: visibility matters. Hamrick puts it plainly:
“Ohio law states the windows have to be uncovered, the tail lights, the head lights, the license plate light.”

Skip that checklist, and you’re looking at fines reaching $170—plus the unpleasant realization that the entire situation was avoidable with just a few extra minutes outside.

Set the Alarm Earlier—Winter Demands It

Commuters may hate to hear it, but winter driving requires time. Real time. Hamrick recommends doubling or even tripling your morning prep when snow is in the forecast. Brush the roof, clear the hood, scrape the windows, and make sure every light—front, rear, and plate—is visible.

And here’s a simple pro tip: lift your wipers at night. It prevents them from freezing to the windshield, saving you both time and a potential trip to buy new blades.

It all boils down to a philosophy that Hamrick teaches every new driver: winter driving isn’t just about surviving the roads—it’s about respecting them. A few minutes of patience, and a few sweeps of a snow brush, can save you money and keep everyone else a little safer in the cold months ahead.

Source: Reuters; Photo: Nikola Fific/Shutterstock

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