For all those who choose to grind gravel and certain more than boulders even though surrounded by luxurious napa leather — and can’t think about emitting even a solitary molecule of carbon dioxide although performing so — the absolutely electrical Mercedes G-Wagen is for you.
The incredibly highly-priced, boxy standing image is now even status symbol-ier thanks to a 116 kWh battery and all-electric generate practice, entire with 4 separately managed motors with a maximum total output of 432 kW — or the equal of about 580 horsepower — and a max torque 1,164 Newton-meters.
“I a short while ago joked that it’s like the Birkin bag of Mercedes,” Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius said on the Decoder podcast back in 2022. “Everybody would like one, and the ready time is truly long. It could even be the most fascinating automobile in our portfolio.”
But with good electric power comes great expenditure. The Mercedes-Benz G 580 with EQ technology (an ungainly identify for an unique EV, but I’ll permit it) will start off at €142,621.50 ($152,184.27), while the 1st version trim goes for €192,524.15 ($205,432.89). That is a top quality more than the gas designs, which commonly start at all over $143,000. At start, the Version A single trim will be distinctive to the US industry and will arrive at dealerships in the next 50 % of 2024.
The G 580, or EQG if you will, will be crafted on a ladder frame idea, which the automaker claims is elementary to its off-roading. Like its gasoline-run equivalents, the ladder frame involves an unbiased entrance suspension with double wishbones, as perfectly as a freshly designed rigid rear axle for a decreased heart of gravity. The battery will propel the EQG to an believed 473 km (293 miles) on the WLTP standard, which will possible be even decreased when dependent on the a lot less optimistic EPA rating.
The electric G-Wagen will occur with a entire caravan of nifty circus tricks, including a tank turn (which Mercedes has branded its G-Switch) for sharper, on-axis rotations. G-Convert will get the job done on free, unpaved roadways and trails and only at minimal speeds. And a 3-velocity clever off-road crawl purpose will continue to keep the electrical SUV at the optimal speed while traveling more than uneven surfaces. And Mercedes boasts that the EQG will continue to be steady on slopes up to 35 levels and has a utmost fording depth of 850 millimeters (33 inches).
Of study course, all that off-roading requires further safety for the battery, which is saved in the ground of the vehicle for that low middle of gravity. Each grain of gravel is a opportunity hazard when you are driving all around with a two-tiered lithium-ion battery with 216 cells put in in 12 cell modules concerning 3 cooling levels under your ft.
The underbody skid plate, which is special to the electric powered G-Course, is produced from “an smart substance mix” that incorporates carbon, which “increases rigidity in contrast to solutions made from steel or aluminum,” the business states. It also makes sure extensive-lasting corrosion safety and saves pounds. The plate is 26 millimeters thick, weighs 57.6 kilograms, and is hooked up to the ladder frame with extra than 50 metal screws.
And in what is starting to be an more and more typical point to do with new EVs, Mercedes has decided to give its electric powered G-Wagen a phony motor sounds, branded in this article as G-Roar. Impressed by the gas lineup’s “emotional V8 appears,” the G-Roar will use exterior speakers to emit a sound that simulates the “deep bass and sonorous tones” of its gas-sipping sibling. The sounds can alter when switching involving generate modes: Convenience makes a much more restrained faux motor noise, even though Sport will strike you proper in the inner thoughts (Mercedes also describes it as “emotional”).
Even with an emphasis on off-roading above efficiency, the G 580 with EQ engineering (nope, nevertheless ungainly, likely again to EQG) is no slouch on the pavement. The electric SUV can speed up from to 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds and will be electronically minimal to a optimum pace of 180 km/h (or 112 mph).
The exterior is just about similar to the current product yr of fuel-fueled G-Wagens. You do get illuminated accents on the grille, which also can be replaced with an optional blacked-out entrance panel. The bonnet is somewhat raised, and the rear wheel wells involve air curtains for improved aerodynamic overall performance. There’s also a new A-pillar cladding and a spoiler lip on the roof. But usually, it would be challenging to select out the EV in an all-G-Class lineup.
A rear-mounted style box seems ideal for a spare tire, but open it up and — shock! — it is charging cables and other optional goodies, like snow chains. Of program, if you want to be a traditionalist, you can totally stow your spare tire in there. No judgment.
Inside of, the electric powered G-Wagen is sticking to what is effective, holding the passenger get bar and encompassing every little thing with carbon fiber. There are lots of physical buttons, and the air vents are delightfully tactile and round. The pedals are coated in lifted rivets since, you know, off-highway. And the 12.3-inch digital display screen operates on Mercedes’ effectively-received MBUX infotainment method — but also supports Apple CarPlay and Android Car.
Rear-seat passengers can get pleasure from a assortment of media on their individual 11.6-inch touchscreens that are mounted on the back of the front seats. Articles can be moved from the rear to the front show — but online video seeing and world wide web searching are reserved for parked manner only.
The electrical G-Wagen 1st emerged in principle type back again in 2021 and then once more in 2022, inspite of the company’s absence of clarity about production strategies. (To compensate, Mercedes unveiled a ridiculously superior strategy marketing online video established in a 1970s-period space opera with aliens.)
But due to the fact then, there have been a ton of electric powered off-roaders, like the Ford F-150 Lightning, Chevy Silverado EV, Hummer EV, and Rivian R1T and R1S. No matter whether any of these motor vehicles essentially shell out a one next performing real off-street things — as opposed to choosing up grass fertilizer at The Home Depot — is solely up for debate. The electric G-Wagen will very likely be no distinctive, as the boxy SUV has normally been found much more often in the driveways of the über loaded than on the trails in Moab.
However, the EQG is a indicator that whilst it has pulled back again some of its early predictions about electrification, Mercedes continue to understands that even its tremendous luxury position symbols will require to go electrical.