Still Stronger Than Time?
Five new Mercedes-Benz models premiered at the IAA 2021, including the AMG GT 63 S E Performance, the AMG EQS 53, the Maybach EQS SUV concept, the EQE, and of course, the Concept EQG. That’s right! the G-Class is also going all-electric. In case you missed the story, Daimler’s trademark filings for EQG 560 and EQG 580 nameplates a few months ago, hinted at the arrival of an all-electric G.
An electric G-Class shouldn’t come as a surprise for those who remember the Ener-G-Force concept of 2012. As for the Concept EQG, it retains the traditional G-Class silhouette and adds the EQ bits such as a black panel at the front with illuminated squares (squircles) to mimic a traditional grille; a white band that wraps the central “grille”, white illuminated circles in the mirror housings, a special roof rack with illuminated bands, and a rounded square spare wheel cover at the rear with an illuminated band. The concept rides on Maybach-esque 22-inch polished aluminium alloy wheels. Mercedes describes the Concept EQG as “a near-production study”, which means the production version is not too far.
Now the important question is of course, can a G-Class be electric? That’s a good question, but that’s the direction all things are going. The 4.0L V8 biturbo will be replaced with four electric motors positioned close to the wheels, and the plan is to also have a shiftable 2-speed gearbox for off-roading purposes. So what’s gonna replace the side exhausts? Well, nothing. But the all-electric G-Class will also receive the obligatory “Schöckl proved” badges post completing the tests on the 1,445-metre high Schöckl mountain in Graz.
Wherever market conditions permit, Mercedes-Benz will be ready to go fully electric by the end of the decade. With this strategic step from ‘Electric first’ to ‘Electric only’, including sustainable production and the CO2-neutral life cycle of our batteries, we are accelerating the transformation to a zero-emission and software-driven future. We want to inspire our customers to switch to electric mobility with convincing products. An icon like the G-Class fulfills this task perfectly. – Markus Schäfer, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and COO of Mercedes-Benz Cars
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