“Socket” Gelandewagen: serial Mercedes-Benz EQG debuts later than expected
It is assumed that the electric SUV of the German brand will receive the same battery, which is equipped with the flagship liftback EQS.
Mercedes-Benz has been manufacturing the G-Class SUV since 1979, and the production of the current generation model started in 2018. Judging by the data of the Carsalesbase website, over the past few years, Gelandewagen's performance has been growing, however, the “covid” 2020 interrupted the positive dynamics: then the car sold 6342 copies (27% less than a year earlier). However, this year the model returned to the “plus”: in January June (more recent data is not yet available), customers bought 4420 cars, which is 35% more than in the first half of the previous year.
In the photo: the current Mercedes-Benz G-Class
As it became known earlier, Mercedes-Benz is now continuing to develop an all-electric version of the G-Class. It is expected that the German brand will present a conceptual version of the future novelty very soon, probably, the debut will take place this fall as part of the international Munich Motor Show. Previously, it was assumed that we would see the production version of the “green” SUV either at the end of 2022 or in 2023, but now the British publication Autocar reports that the commercial version will appear later, in 2024.
The model will belong to the electric EQ line of the Mercedes-Benz brand. Such an SUV will be named EQG. According to preliminary data, the novelty will not have many external differences from the version with a traditional internal combustion engine, in contrast to the flagship large EQS liftback, which bears little resemblance to the Mercedes-Benz S-Class four-door. So far, there is no information about the exterior of the novelty, earlier we published a render of the future “battery” Gelandewagen, provided by the Spanish edition of motor.es.
In the photo: the interior of the current Mercedes-Benz G-Class
The Mercedes-Benz EQG may get a blank in place of the traditional grille, which will probably be decorated with many small three-pointed stars, which are the symbol of the brand. It is expected that the head optics will remain the current recognizable round shape, it will still have LED daytime running light surrounds. On the body, most likely, there will be nameplates indicating the version of the model. The model can also get different bumpers, in addition, the design of the rims will be different.
So far, the company has not declassified information about the “stuffing” of EQG. It is assumed that the “electric SUV” is based on a modified EVA 2.0 platform, probably the novelty will have exclusively all-wheel drive, and it will be able to move due to a twin-engine power plant. According to preliminary information, the top version (it can receive the EQG 580 index) has a total system power of 525 hp. It is likely that the electric version of the G-Class will be equipped with the same battery that is equipped with the Mercedes-Benz EQS: its capacity is 108 kWh. The expected range without recharging is about 500 km.
Render Mercedes-Benz EQG
It is worth recalling that the electric G-Class, in fact, already exists, but this car was not created by Mercedes-Benz, but by the Austrian company Kreisel Electric. That SUV is equipped with a 490-horsepower electric motor, which is powered by a set of batteries with a total capacity of 80 kWh. The power reserve of such a “green” Gelandewagen is approximately 300 km. From zero to “hundreds” it accelerates in 5.6 seconds, and its maximum speed is 183 km / h. One of the first cars created was sent to the fleet of actor and politician Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Obviously, the price of the Mercedes-Benz EQG will be higher compared to the cost of the “regular” G-Class. It remains to be seen whether the electric SUV will make it to the end of the day. Note that the price of the current Gelandewagen ?, according to the official website of the brand, starts at 11.73 million conventional units. During the “covid” 2020, the model was sold in 2022 copies (45% more than in the previous year).