The Fully Electric Mercedes G-Class Increases Technology and Off-road Capability | TechCrunch

The Mercedes-Benz G-Class – the rugged off-road powerhouse that debuted in 1979 and has since become a brutalist status symbol – has gone electric. This is in many ways Mercedes’ most prestigious car, a model valued more for its presence and exclusivity than for its performance and capability. For the legendary Gelandewagen, the switch to electric drive is more than just a historic moment; It’s the biggest test yet of the company’s recently scaled-back electrification plans.

Mercedes’ approach to electrifying the prestigious SUV suggests that the German automaker understands what it’s all about. The first electric version of the G-Class not only outperforms, but even surpasses, its combustion engine counterparts in terms of performance and off-road capability. The name is surprising.

Get to know the Mercedes-Benz G 580 with EQ technology. That’s right, not the EQG, which breaks the pattern set by all-electric predecessors like the EQS, EQE and EQB. Starting with the G-Class, all new battery-electric Mercedes models will fit into the company’s traditional alphabetical taxonomy.

This is a significant change from a brand perspective, but when you look at it, it makes sense. The electric G has a lot in common with its combustion engine predecessors. If Mercedes wants to break this trend and integrate electric vehicles into the traditional model nomenclature, this is the place.

screws and nuts

Like the other Gs, the G 580 is still built on a traditional ladder frame, a common arrangement on trucks and purpose-built SUVs. Likewise, a solid axle is still used at the rear, again preferred by serious trail dwellers. The electric G makes a concession to modernity with its independent front suspension, but this also applies to the other current G-Class variants.

Perhaps more importantly, it’s almost indistinguishable from the upcoming 2025 refresh of the G-Class. Mercedes has made a few subtle changes to the design, most notably a black grille and some distinctive EQ-exclusive lighting. There are other changes like slightly rounded corners and the like to help this SUV’s abrupt shape cut through the wind more clearly, but they’re barely noticeable.

At first glance, however, you quickly realize that aerodynamics is not the focus here. Off-road performance is what it is, and Mercedes has done its best and developed a tailor-made powertrain for the G-Class.

A bet on off-road driving

There is a radical difference here compared to the various petrol-powered G-Class models.

Like Rivian’s higher-spec R1T and R1S models, the G-Class is powered by four electric motors – one for each wheel – mounted internally on the SUV’s chassis. Each of these engines even has its own two-speed transmission, a selectable reduction gearbox that allows the G-Class’s EQ flavor to have a low-range mode, giving it extra torque and control in low-traction scenarios.

A four-motor setup allows for precise control of individual wheel speeds, allowing for better grip management than would be possible with a traditional limited-slip differential setup. It also offers the opportunity for some fun tricks.

The trademark is what Mercedes calls G-Turn. Tap a few buttons on the center console, hold down either the left or right paddle on the steering wheel, then step on the accelerator and the G-Class spins on its axis.

It manages up to two complete revolutions like this, just enough for a bit of showboating, but Mercedes says it’s actually intended to allow for a quick exit from unexpectedly terminated trails, something seen before with Rivian.

Another, more practical feature is the so-called G-Cornering, where the G-Class can reduce the speed of the rear wheels on the inside of the curve when cornering. This will help the G-Class tackle tight, winding paths far more efficiently than a typical off-roader with limited-slip differentials.

Crucially, none of these features are available on G-Class models with combustion engines. If you want them, you have to go electric; And the additional features don’t end there.

The EQ G-Class can wade through 33.5 inches of water, about 6 inches deeper than the other G models. It also provides an additional 0.3 inches of ground clearance and an additional approach angle.

A hot electric vehicle in a world with tepid demand

If you’re worried about ruggedness, Mercedes-Benz tells you not to be. The G 580 with EQ technology features metal and carbon fiber protection around the 116-kilowatt-hour battery. It is also completely insulated from the water, dirt, and other gunk it runs through. However, it is not manufactured using the silicon anode technology from Mercedes and Sila’s partnership. According to a Mercedes-Benz spokesman, these will come onto the market in the next few years in a “range-extended” version of the electric G.

It could prove to be a desirable option. For example, despite having a capacity 16 kWh higher than a Model Mercedes, it says it will travel 473 kilometers on the European WLTP cycle, which should equate to about 250 miles in the American EPA test, far less than the Model X’s EPA rating of 335 miles.

Despite the range, the electric G-Class sounds like an impressive package that will scare any real performance fan away from the combustion engine models. Tragically, it launches at a time when interest in electric vehicles in general is declining.

Mercedes-Benz recently scaled back its 2030 goal of becoming a pure-play electric vehicle manufacturer, blaming difficult market conditions.

Ahead of the presentation of the G 580, Britta Seeger, board member of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, said that interest in electric vehicles varies greatly depending on the region in Europe. Adoption has taken a huge hit recently due to the sudden removal of incentives for electric vehicles, she added.

This caused “a little uncertainty” among the brand’s customers. “And of course when you turn off incentives, that has an immediate impact,” Seeger continued.

In Europe, Mercedes has covered this with its own incentives, with “promising” results, says Seeger. In the US, the “lease gap” means many brand electric vehicles still receive the $7,500 federal rebate as long as they are leased, while dealers here often pocket deep discounts themselves.

“There are definitely people in the US who are very interested, but I would say the majority are hesitant.”

She said the company is sticking with its electrification plans but declined to set specific sales targets for the G 580 with EQ technology compared to the other combustion engine G-Class trim levels. “We are prepared for anything…We have complete flexibility to respond to our customers’ needs,” she said.

In other words, we’ll have to wait and see what impact the G 580 with EQ technology has on the G-Class’s overall sales margin. However, unless it’s a total flop, you can certainly expect more.

Mercedes has previously produced more powerful and more expensive AMG versions of its electric EQE and EQS models. In the US, the AMG version of the traditional G-Class sells better than its cheaper versions, despite the starting price being almost $200,000 – plus the exorbitant customization your local dealer will want to do.

That’s why Mercedes-Benz boss Ola Källenius describes the G-Class as “the Birkin Bag of our product portfolio”. Will the new EQ variant retain its reputation? It certainly seems ready to take its predecessors off-road, but whether that’s enough to woo the fickle G crowd remains to be seen.