One of the oldest tricks in the movie business is combining polar opposite characters together, standing back, and seeing what mayhem ensues. Look no farther than a New York doctor interning at an Alaska outpost to repay college loans, (Northern Exposure), a slob and a neat-nut move in together (The Odd Couple), and of course, UAW workers meet their Japanese bosses (Gung Ho).

The opening of the Mercedes Benz mega assembly plant in Vance, Alabama, is a screenwriting dream come true as it pairs two entities that couldn’t be farther apart. German industrialists and laid back Southerners. The results of this union are the M-Class and GL-Class SUVs that have become the bedrock of Mercedes Benz’s North American sales. But did you know that they’ve also built a rugged off-road test course on the factory grounds to test these teutonic four-wheelers? Local media Al.com brings us a video above of two GL 550 heavyweights navigating the test course.

The 1.4-mile course includes winding paths, steep grades, stairs, boulders, 18-inch deep ponds and a 70 percent downhill slope. While both the M and GL Class were put through their paces during the development phases, the on-site course helps shake out any problems that arise during production and enables the company to troubleshoot faster.

Mercedes has a hit on its hands with its Hummer sized GL Class.  It was second in sales only behind the Cadillac Escalade for 2013 and is the go to “station wagon” of  soccer moms everywhere who wouldn’t be caught dead in a domestic brand. We all know they rarely go off road, but it’s good to know that if you need the traction in snow or stormy weather, it’s there.

Now about that TV series: We would cast “Larry the Cable Guy” as the main character, and follow his zany adventures with his German bosses. That script would almost write itself. 

Combine “Larry the Cable Guy” with these two…