VIENNA: The Mercedes-Benz G-Class is to come onto the market with all-electric power in 2024, the manufacturer announced during test drives with pre-production models at this electric dinosaur's production site in Graz, Austria.
For the electric version of the classic off-roader, first built in 1979, Mercedes is promising 590 km, a range suitable for everyday use, and not significantly less than with EQE models.
The announcement of an electric G-Class, among the most fuel-intensive off-road vehicles in Mercedes' range, comes as much of Europe's automotive industry prepares to switch to electric mobility amid widespread plans for bans on combustion engines.
The so-called EQG, which is based on the AMG version of the current G-Class, is set to start at prices under €200,000 (RM964,000) in Europe.
While the new EQG will have a single electric motor per wheel and will weigh more than three tonnes with the battery in the vehicle floor, the manufacturer traditionally places emphasis on off-road characteristics.
According to Emmerich Schiller, who is responsible for the G-Class as head of the model series, the power is sufficient for more than two solid days of rough and tumble.
Off-road specs such as the fording depth and slope angle have not changed compared to the combustion models, and the climbing ability is also similar. The battery is protected against impacts from below by an armour made of composite materials and is specially sealed.
The electric drive even gives the off-road veteran one special ability: because the motors can also be controlled in opposite directions, the EQG can turn on its own axis.
But Mercedes says this doesn't mean the entire G-model series is going to be electrified, and petrol and diesel engines are set to be updated again.
