Mercedes-Benz will release the production version of the EQG concept car, the new electric G-Class, on April 24. The car will be officially unveiled at the 2024 Beijing Auto Show that opens the next day.
It is noticed that the EQG concept car was first released in 2021, and it was expected that the production car would use this name. However, the model after official mass production will be named “G 580 with EQ Technology”.
Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius first revealed plans for an electric G-Class back in 2019. Källenius said at the time that the company had considered discontinuing the G-Class rather than converting it into an electric vehicle. But in the end they decided that the last Mercedes-Benz produced should be this iconic off-road model.
Other than the G-Turn capability, other specifications of the electric G-Class have yet to be announced. “Tank U-turn” is a maneuvering technique that allows the vehicle to complete a 360-degree rotation on the spot. It is especially suitable for situations where a conventional turn cannot be completed on a narrow road section blocked by boulders or trees.
The EQG concept uses a standard body-on-frame platform and is equipped with four independent electric motors and a variable-speed 2-speed gearbox for off-road driving reduction. Mercedes says the EQG’s off-road capabilities will be on par with those of the traditional G-Class, capable of navigating complex terrain, including climbing steep slopes with gradients up to 100%, and these capabilities are expected to be carried over to production models.
While Mercedes hasn’t announced the EQG’s range, the company says its batteries will use high-silicon anode materials to help increase energy density.
In addition to the electric G-Class, Mercedes will also release the AMG GT 63 S E Performance plug-in hybrid sports car with more than 800 horsepower, an upgraded version of the EQS sedan, and a new car from Maybach at the upcoming Beijing Auto Show. .
