Mercedes-Benz introduced the G-Class to its range in the late 70s and since then the exuberant off-roader has firmly held its own in the somewhat inaccessible and otherworldly universe of off-road four-wheelers. In 2018, it decided to present a radically improved new generation, while now, based on the relevant recommendations of the German manufacturer, we are speeding towards the first purely electric G-Class, which will adopt the EQG badge and is expected to make its premiere in 2024 .
Given the schedule, it goes without saying that Mercedes-Benz has been developing the disputed version for some time now, starting to release the first details about the new electric chapter in the history of the G-Class which, based on a new video released by German brand, will be claimed with some special abilities.
In this particular video, the head of Mercedes-Benz, Ola Kallenius and executives of the brand actively involved in the development of the beastly off-roader guide the fans to some of the features and mainly the capabilities of the EQG against the background of the inhospitable routes of the Schockl mountain in Austria.
From the relevant visual material, a less expected ability emerges as the head of Mercedes-Benz performs a 360-degree turn with EQG, a capability that, based on what is described from 8:55 minutes in the video in question, this function is activated by pressing a switch and the use of the left paddle located behind the steering wheel.
As noted in addition, the EQG will be equipped with four electric motors, one for each wheel, an element that plays a decisive role in the possibility of on-site rotation.
In addition, according to the recommendations in the framework of this feature, the driver will be able to choose, in addition to 360 degrees, to perform on-the-spot rotations smaller than a full circle, for example 90 degrees, a function that is particularly useful in case someone gets stuck in terrain with particularly low traction or wishes to perform a maneuver that would otherwise be extremely difficult given the size of the car. At the same time, as noted during the construction of the EQG, all the necessary measures have been taken to protect the battery as its lower part has been reinforced with two layers of carbon fiber with intercalated steel.
It should be noted that in addition to the EQG which is expected to make its premiere in the first half of 2024, Mercedes-Benz has already announced its intention to launch from the second half of the decade, and a smaller variant of the G-Class in which he calls “Little G”. Although this version is not expected to use the same ladder frame as the prototype and the electric version, data will be offered as a pure electric drive and will offer similar off-road capabilities although data not in the range of the G-Class and EQG.
It is worth noting that the arrival of the electric version will not mean the end of the traditional G-Class which will continue its more than forty-year course and will even benefit from a renewal which is expected to make its appearance at the same time as the arrival of EQG.