The Mercedes-Benz G-Course — the rugged off-highway powerhouse that launched in 1979 and has due to the fact develop into a brutalist status symbol — has gone electrical. This is, in numerous means, Mercedes’ most prestigious vehicle, a design additional prized for its presence and exclusivity than its energy and ability. Heading electric, then, is more than an historic instant for the legendary Gelandewagen it is the largest test however for the company’s not too long ago scaled back again electrification plans.
Mercedes’ tactic to electrifying the prestigious SUV implies the German automaker understands the stakes. The 1st electric version of the G-Course not only meets but beats its internally combusted counterparts in phrases of electricity and off-highway capability. What is shocking is the name.
Meet the Mercedes-Benz G 580 with EQ Technologies. That’s right, not the EQG, breaking the pattern established out by all-electrical predecessors like the EQS, EQE and EQB. Beginning with the G-Course, all new battery electric Mercedes types will healthy into the company’s regular alphabetic taxonomy.
That’s a major change from a branding standpoint, but it tends to make perception when you seem at the thing. The electric G shares a sizeable sum with its internally combusted predecessors. If Mercedes desired to split that trend and combine the EVs into the traditional design nomenclature, this is the position.
Nuts and bolts
Impression Credits: Mercedes
Like the other Gs, the G 580 is even now crafted on a standard ladder frame, a common structure in vehicles and purpose-designed off-roaders. Likewise, it still makes use of a solid axle out back, yet again favored by significant denizens of the trails. The electrical G does make a concession to modernity with an independent entrance suspension setup, but that’s also just like the other current G-Class flavors.
Maybe additional importantly, it seems just about indistinguishable from the approaching 2025 refresh of the G-Class. Mercedes manufactured a handful of delicate tweaks to the styling, most noteworthy currently being a black grille additionally some unique, EQ-special lights. There are other alterations these kinds of as a little rounded corners and the like to permit this SUV’s abrupt shape minimize as a result of the wind more cleanly, but they’re in the vicinity of-unattainable to spot.
Consider just one search, although, and it is simple to see that aerodynamics is not the precedence below. Off-highway performance is, and Mercedes has long gone all-out, making a bespoke drivetrain for the G-Class.
A bet on off roading
Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ Technology in desert sand non-metallic paint. Picture credits: Mercedes
This is in which issues get radically distinct from the several gasoline-driven G-Class designs.
Like the better-spec versions of Rivian’s R1T and R1S, the G-Class is pushed by four electric powered motors — a person for each individual wheel — mounted inboard on the SUV’s chassis. Each of these motors even has its individual two-speed transmission, a selectable reduction gearset that makes it possible for the EQ taste of the G-Class to have a reduced-selection mode, providing it further torque and management in lower-grip situations.
A four-motor setup presents exact regulate about specific wheel pace, enabling better grip management than a conventional locking differential setup could control. It makes the prospect for some pleasurable tricks, too.
The hallmark is what Mercedes phone calls the G-Switch. Tap a handful of buttons on the center console, keep either the left or correct paddle on the steering wheel, and then action on the accelerator, and the G-Class spins about on its axis.
It’ll do up to two comprehensive rotations like this, just sufficient for a bit of showboating, but Mercedes claims it is truly for creating a swift exit from unexpectedly terminated trails, some thing once again noticed before from Rivian.
A different, far more sensible aspect is called G-Cornering, exactly where the G-Class can lower the speed of the inside rear wheels when turning. This will assistance the G-Class navigate restricted, twisty trails significantly additional effectively than a standard off-roader with locking differentials.
Crucially, neither of these functions is available on the G-Class versions with interior combustion engines. If you want them, you will have to go electrical and the excess capabilities really don’t stop there.
The EQ G-Course can wade by drinking water 33.5 inches deep, about 6 whole inches further than the other Gs. It also gives an more .3 inches of ground clearance and an further diploma of strategy angle.
A very hot EV in a tepid-demand from customers world
Graphic Credits: Mercedes
If you’re concerned about ruggedness, Mercedes-Benz claims you shouldn’t be. The G 580 with EQ Know-how has metal and carbon fiber defense all around the 116-kilowatt-hour battery pack. It is also absolutely isolated from water, dirt and regardless of what other muck you run it by. It’s not, having said that, produced utilizing the silicon-anode know-how from Mercedes’ partnership with Sila. People are thanks to get there in a “range-extended” model of the electric G inside of the subsequent several yrs, in accordance to a Mercedes-Benz spokesperson.
It could prove to be a appealing option. Despite offering 16 kWh greater potential than a Product X, for instance, the electric G won’t go almost as far on a demand as the Tesla. Mercedes says it’ll do 473 kilometers on the European WLTP cycle, which ought to equate to about 250 miles on the American EPA examination, considerably short of the Model X’s 335-mile EPA score.
In spite of the variety, the electrical G-Class sounds like an extraordinary bundle, more than enough to woo any accurate admirer of overall performance away from the products with inner combustion. Tragically, it launches at a time of cooling desire for EVs in normal.
Mercedes-Benz recently walked again its 2030 purpose of remaining an EV-only manufacturer, blaming challenging sector conditions.
Ahead of the G 580’s unveiling, Britta Seeger, Member of the Board of Administration of Mercedes-Benz Team AG, said that curiosity in EVs is seriously variable primarily based on area In Europe. Adoption has not long ago taken a big hit thanks to the unexpected elimination of EV-associated incentives, she additional.
This has prompted “a minor little bit of uncertainty” among the the brand’s prospects. “And naturally, if you transform off incentives, it has an instant impression,” Seeger ongoing.
In Europe, Mercedes has protected this by implementing its individual incentives, with “promising” outcomes, in accordance to Seeger. In the U.S. the “lease loophole” indicates several of the brand’s EVs even now get the $7,five hundred federal incentive so lengthy as they are leased, even though dealers here are normally piling on steep savings of their very own.
“For the U.S., we do see men and women who are quite substantially fascinated, but I would say the the greater part are extra hesitant.”
She says the firm is sticking to its electrification options but declined to set any particular income targets for the G 580 with EQ Technological innovation compared to the other G-Class trims with internal combustion. “We are ready for everything… We have full overall flexibility in responding to purchaser needs,” she mentioned.
In other phrases, we’ll have to wait around and see how a lot of a factor the G 580 with EQ Technologies is in the over-all unfold of G-Course product sales. Unless of course it’s a complete flop, though, it’s reasonable to anticipate a lot more.
Mercedes has therefore significantly created better-horsepower, greater-cost AMG-branded versions of its electric EQE and EQS designs. In the U.S., the AMG version of the conventional G-Course outsells its reduced-expense variations, inspite of carrying a approximately $two hundred,000 beginning price — as well as what ever exorbitant adjustment your regional supplier wants to use.
That is why Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius phone calls the G-Course “the Birkin bag of our item portfolio.” Will the new EQ flavor manage its cachet? It unquestionably appears to be ready to generate circles all around its predecessors off-road, but no matter if that’s plenty of to woo the fickle G group stays to be found.
