The Mercedes G-Wagen, the ultimate off-road status symbol, goes electric

For those who for illustration to grind gravel and bound complete boulders while surrounded by luxurious napa leather — and can’t ideate emitting moreover a azygous molecule of c dioxide while doing truthful — the afloat electrical Mercedes G-Wagen is for you.

The very expensive, boxy position awesome is now moreover position symbol-ier acknowledgment to a 116 kWh artillery and all-electric thrust train, complete pinch 4 individually controlled motors pinch a maximum full output of 432 kW — or nan balanced of astir 580 horsepower — and a max torque 1,164 Newton-meters.

But pinch awesome powerfulness comes awesome expense. The Mercedes-Benz G 580 pinch EQ exertion (an ungainly sanction for an exotic EV, but I’ll let it) will start astatine €142,621.50 ($152,184.27), while nan first version trim goes for €192,524.15 ($205,432.89). That’s a premium complete nan gas models, which typically commencement astatine astir $143,000. At launch, nan Edition One trim will beryllium exclusive to nan US marketplace and will get astatine dealerships successful nan 2nd half of 2024.

The G 580, aliases EQG if you will, will beryllium built connected a ladder framework concept, which nan automaker says is basal to its off-roading. Like its gas-powered equivalents, nan ladder framework includes an independent beforehand suspension pinch double wishbones, arsenic good arsenic a recently developed rigid rear axle for a little halfway of gravity. The artillery will propel nan EQG to an estimated 473 km (293 miles) connected nan WLTP standard, which will apt beryllium moreover lowered erstwhile based connected nan little optimistic EPA rating.

The electrical G-Wagen will travel pinch a full caravan of nifty circus tricks, including a vessel move (which Mercedes has branded its G-Turn) for sharper, on-axis rotations. G-Turn will activity connected loose, unpaved roads and trails and only astatine debased speeds. And a three-speed intelligent off-road crawl usability will support nan electrical SUV astatine nan optimal velocity while walking complete uneven surfaces. And Mercedes boasts that nan EQG will stay unchangeable connected slopes up to 35 degrees and has a maximum fording extent of 850 millimeters (33 inches).

Of course, each that off-roading requires other protection for nan battery, which is stored successful nan level of nan conveyance for that debased halfway of gravity. Every atom of gravel is simply a imaginable hazard erstwhile you’re driving astir pinch a two-tiered lithium-ion artillery pinch 216 cells installed successful 12 compartment modules betwixt 3 cooling levels under your feet.

The underbody skid plate, which is unsocial to nan electrical G-Class, is made from “an intelligent worldly mix” that includes carbon, which “increases rigidity compared to alternatives made from alloy aliases aluminum,” nan institution says. It besides ensures long-lasting corrosion protection and saves weight. The sheet is 26 millimeters thick, weighs 57.6 kilograms, and is attached to nan ladder framework pinch much than 50 alloy screws.  

And successful what is becoming an increasingly normal point to do pinch caller EVs, Mercedes has decided to springiness its electrical G-Wagen a clone motor noise, branded present arsenic G-Roar. Inspired by nan state lineup’s “emotional V8 sounds,” nan G-Roar will usage outer speakers to emit a sound that simulates nan “deep bass and sonorous tones” of its fuel-sipping sibling. The sounds tin alteration erstwhile switching betwixt thrust modes: Comfort produces a much restrained clone motor noise, while Sport will deed you correct successful nan feelings (Mercedes besides describes it arsenic “emotional”).

Even pinch an accent connected off-roading complete performance, nan G 580 pinch EQ exertion (nope, still ungainly, going backmost to EQG) is nary slouch connected nan pavement. The electrical SUV tin accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h successful 4.7 seconds and will beryllium electronically constricted to a maximum velocity of 180 km/h (or 112 mph).

The exterior is astir identical to nan existent exemplary twelvemonth of gas-fueled G-Wagens. You do get illuminated accents connected nan grille, which besides tin beryllium replaced pinch an optional blacked-out beforehand panel. The bonnet is somewhat raised, and nan rear instrumentality wells see aerial curtains for amended aerodynamic performance. There’s besides a caller A-pillar cladding and a spoiler articulator connected nan roof. But otherwise, it would beryllium difficult to prime retired nan EV successful an all-G-Class lineup.

A rear-mounted creation container looks perfect for a spare tire, but unfastened it up and — surprise! — it’s charging cables and different optional goodies, for illustration snowfall chains. Of course, if you want to beryllium a traditionalist, you tin perfectly stow your spare tyre successful there. No judgment.

Inside, nan electrical G-Wagen is sticking to what works, keeping nan rider drawback barroom and surrounding everything pinch c fiber. There are plentifulness of beingness buttons, and nan aerial vents are delightfully tactile and circular. The pedals are covered successful raised rivets because, you know, off-road. And nan 12.3-inch integer show runs connected Mercedes’ well-received MBUX infotainment strategy — but besides supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Rear-seat passengers tin bask a assortment of media connected their individual 11.6-inch touchscreens that are mounted connected nan backmost of nan beforehand seats. Content tin beryllium moved from nan rear to nan beforehand show — but video watching and net browsing are reserved for parked mode only.

The electrical G-Wagen first emerged successful concept shape backmost successful 2021 and past again successful 2022, contempt nan company’s deficiency of clarity astir accumulation plans. (To compensate, Mercedes released a ridiculously precocious conception promotional video group successful a 1970s-era abstraction opera pinch aliens.)

But since then, location person been a batch of electrical off-roaders, including nan Ford F-150 Lightning, Chevy Silverado EV, Hummer EV, and Rivian R1T and R1S. Whether immoderate of these vehicles really walk a azygous 2nd doing existent off-road worldly — arsenic opposed to picking up writer fertilizer astatine The Home Depot — is wholly up for debate. The electrical G-Wagen will apt beryllium nary different, arsenic nan boxy SUV has ever been seen much often successful nan driveways of nan über rich | than connected nan trails successful Moab.

Still, nan EQG is simply a motion that while it has pulled backmost immoderate of its early predictions astir electrification, Mercedes still understands that moreover its ace luxury position symbols will request to spell electric.