I’ve at all times cherished the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, and that feeling has elevated with each passing yr, particularly after attending to drive them and shifting to LA the place they’re as in style as F-150s in Michigan. If I may solely drive one automobile for the remainder of my life, it will be a brand new G-wagen. My private most anticipated automobile reveal of on the very least this decade has been the long-teased absolutely electrical G-wagen, which was first teased in 2021 with the Idea EQG.

Now, the electrical Geländewagen is lastly right here, and it’s even higher than I hoped — identify apart. Mercedes has ditched the EQ nomenclature for the G-wagen, giving the electrical G a simpler-yet-clunkier identify: G580 with EQ Know-how. Yup, that’s the official identify. Ignore that little bit of German silliness, and the brand new G580 EV looks like it is not going to solely be the final word off-roader no matter powertrain, however the final style-conscious luxurious SUV, too.

The electrical G makes use of the identical ladder-frame platform because the gasoline fashions, during which Mercedes was in some way in a position to stuff a 116-kWh lithium-ion battery pack, although the body has been modified and bolstered. Created from 0.2-inch-thick metal, the two-tier pack has 216 cells in 12 modules between three cooling ranges, and it’s built-in straight into the body and surrounded by a torsion-resistant casing. Defending the underbody is a 1-inch-thick panel constituted of a brand new “clever materials combine” that’s one-third the burden of a standard metal panel however is even stronger and extra resistant to break and the weather.

Like a Rivian R1S (which I’ve heard Mercedes engineers and execs gush about), the G580 EV has 4 electrical motors, one at every axle. The motors are built-in into the body on the housing for the entrance and rear axles, and they’re pushed by quick half-shafts, which permits the rear motors to be bolted to the chassis itself. Every motor makes 145 horsepower, which provides as much as a complete of 579 hp and 859 pound-feet of torque — 2 hp and 232 lb-ft greater than the V8-powered AMG G63, to not point out 136 hp and 446 lb-ft up on the brand new inline-6–powered G550. Every motor has its personal particular person centrally-shifted transmission, and every axle has a double inverter with a shared housing.

Mercedes quotes a 4.6-second 0-to-60-mph time, 0.7 second faster than the G550 and simply 0.4 second off the G63, and it’ll hit a prime pace of 112 mph, which is eighteen mph slower than the G550. On the optimistic European WLTP cycle Mercedes says the G580 may have a spread of 294 miles, which ought to work out to about 250 miles within the U.S., and with 200-kW fast-charging it will probably go from 10 to 80 % cost in 32 minutes. G-wagen homeowners received’t actually have vary anxiousness, both — you’d be onerous pressed to search out one which often will get greater than a dozen mpg, if that.

Identical to the opposite new-generation G-wagens, the electrical G580 has unbiased double wishbone entrance suspension and a stable rear axle, although the latter has been “utterly redeveloped.” Adaptive dampers are commonplace, they usually characteristic pitch and roll stabilization and are claimed to higher compensate for off-road terrain. Mercedes says the suspension parts have additionally been engineered to resist excessive off-road hazards like deep water, mud and dust. Because the motors are hooked up to the ladder body and related to the wheels by way of dual-joint driveshafts, the corporate says camber doesn’t change throughout compression, enhancing the G’s off-road capability.

The G580 has 9.8 inches of floor clearance between the axles (0.3 inches greater than the G550), a fording depth of 33.5 inches (5.9 inches higher), a 32-degree strategy angle (1 diploma higher) and a 30.7-degree departure angle (0.7-degree higher). Its 20.3-degree breakover angle is 5.7 levels worse than a G550, however just like the gas-powered G the electrical one can climb a 100-percent grade and drive on a sideways slope of as much as 35 levels.

As an alternative of utilizing mechanical differential locks like the usual G-Class, the EV makes use of its quad-motor torque vectoring to create digital diff locks by exactly controlling the torque despatched to every wheel inside fractions of a second. And in contrast to the common G, the place the motive force should activate every locker with switches on the dashboard, the G580’s digital locks have absolutely computerized operation. Mercedes says this setup offers “most flexibility with out negatively impacting cornering.”

There are additionally plenty of totally different drive modes, together with Rock and Path modes for off-road driving. The G580 comes commonplace with a 2:1 Low Vary off-road gear discount, which could be activated within the Rock mode. This limits your prime pace to 53 mph, and it permits for an off-road crawl operate that basically acts like cruise management, offering you with the perfect quantity of energy for pre-set speeds even on unfastened or tough surfaces, permitting drivers to extra carefully deal with wheeling. There are three speeds: Gradual crawl, which fits at about 1 mph; Variable crawl, which fits at strolling tempo on stage or uphill terrain and may do as much as 9 mph on 10-20-percent downhill grades; and Quick crawl, which does 5 mph on stage and uphill terrain and has no restrict for downhills.

As we’ve already seen in a bunch of teasers, the G580 has a G-Flip operate that may flip the left and proper wheels in reverse instructions to spin the automobile round in place. This “tank flip” characteristic is one thing we’ve seen experimented with by manufacturers like GMC and Rivian, however the G-wagen is the primary manufacturing car within the U.S. to supply it. Solely out there in Rock mode with Low Vary on, G-Flip is activated by a middle console button, and the route of the spin is chosen by pulling on a steering wheel paddle. The driving force then releases the brake and presses the accelerator, and the automobile will do two full rotations earlier than robotically deactivating; it’s also possible to cease it at a precise level by releasing the paddle or lifting off the pedal.

One other new characteristic allowed by the quad-motor setup is known as G-Steering, which supplies the G580 a a lot tighter turning radius and eliminates the necessity to do multi-point turns, a serious boon for off-roading. That is completed by means of “focused management of the drive torque at every particular person wheel, with the car turning across the inside rear wheel,” Mercedes says. Additionally solely out there in Rock mode with Low Vary lively, G-Steering is usable at as much as 15 mph and is activated by one other button on the sprint. Mercedes says each G-Flip and G-Steering shouldn’t be used on-road.

Most vital to the driving expertise of gas-powered G-wagens has lengthy been the attribute engine word and ensuing rumble from the side-exit exhaust positioned simply forward of every rear wheel, and Mercedes has an answer for the EV’s lack of an engine. Known as G-Roar, it gives a spread of noises that ought to satiate even probably the most devoted G-Class drivers. Says Mercedes:

G-ROAR brings a singular sound expertise to the Mercedes-Benz G 580 with EQ Know-how. Impressed by the G-Class mannequin household’s emotional combustion engine sounds, it gives a formidable acoustic accompaniment to the acceleration of the electrical G-Class. Deep bass and sonorous tones intentionally set it other than the sound expertise of different all-electric fashions from Mercedes-Benz. Drivers can affect the sound with their alternative of ELECTRIC DYNAMIC SELECT drive program. Whereas it’s relatively restrained in “Consolation,” for instance, it develops a strong and emotional sound in “Sport.”

G-ROAR additionally contains an “aura” sound and quite a lot of “occasion” sounds. The “aura” sound can already be heard across the car when drivers strategy the electrical G-Class and unlock the doorways. The “occasion” sounds could be heard when closing the car door after ingress, switching the motors on and off, and upon opening the door on the finish of a journey. After exiting the car, the “aura” sound could be heard once more – for as much as one minute, or till the car is locked. G-ROAR additionally gives acoustic suggestions to the beginning of the charging course of.

From the surface, there’s just a few tells that you simply’re taking a look at an electrical G-Class. As commonplace it has the identical four-bar grille because the facelifted G550, however a black-panel grille is optionally available — this includes a largely clean face with a pair of horizontal inlets on both sides of the brand, an illuminated encompass and black trim that extends across the headlights. Different styling tweaks embody a taller hood, air curtain openings within the rear wheel arches, and aero-focused wheel designs. Mercedes will supply a fair bigger lineup of Manufaktur customization choices, together with new colours, prolonged leather-based finishes and totally different trim packages.

Like on the EQG idea, the G580 EV is accessible with an oblong Design Field as an alternative of the usual spherical spare tire service. This storage field has velcro straps and baggage nets and is designed to carry the automobile’s charging cables, together with different instruments and objects. An out there dual-tone end helps the field mix in with the rear window, and I believe it appears to be like actually cool.

From the within the G580’s variations are even fewer. As an alternative of the three conventional diff locker buttons within the heart of the sprint, the EV has buttons for G-Steering, G-Flip and Low Vary, in addition to the steadiness management and the “Offroad Cockpit,” which takes over each screens with specifically designed shows that present all types of related information like altitude, pitch, steering angle, particular person wheel torque, suspension compression, tire stress and extra. Additionally activated by way of a button this panel is the G-Class’ new “clear hood” operate that use the 360-degree digital camera system to offer a digital view of what’s beneath the nostril of the automobile.

Like the remainder of the 2025 G-Class lineup, the G580 comes commonplace with two 12.3-inch screens, one because the gauge show and the opposite a central touchscreen. Yup, the G-wagen lastly has a touchscreen, and it’s operating the most recent MBUX software program with augmented-reality navigation, an improved voice assistant and USB-C cost ports. The G580 additionally has a regular Burmester 3D encompass sound system, a brand new steering wheel, 64-color ambient lighting, climate-controlled cupholders, an optionally available dashcam, and an optionally available rear-seat leisure system with twin 11.6-inch touchscreens. The brand new G-Class can also be out there with keyless entry for the primary time ever.

The G-Class EV is lots cheaper than I used to be anticipating it to be, too. In Europe it is going to carry a beginning value of round €120,000 excluding the VAT, the equal of roughly $128,000 — a rise of about $10,000 in comparison with a G500. Now, the Euro-spec G-wagen doesn’t include as a lot commonplace tools because the U.S. mannequin does, with pre-facelift G550 beginning at round $144,000 within the U.S., so count on our G580 to hold a beginning value someplace within the $160,000 vary. (Within the U.S. the G63 begins at just below $185,000.)

For the 2025 mannequin yr the G580 will probably be completely provided within the particular Version One launch trim. It’ll are available in certainly one of 5 colours: Arabian Gray, Moonlight White Magno, Moonlight White Metallic, Obsidian Black Metallic, and South Sea Blue Magno (seen in a few of these pictures). It will get the AMG Line and Night time packages, black 20-inch wheels, silver operating boards, blue accents within the exterior trim strips, blue brake calipers, a dual-color cargo field, and puddle lamps that say “Stronger Than Time.” The Version One additionally comes with Silver Pearl and Black Nappa leather-based, blue stitching and blue accents within the carbon-fiber inside trim, and commonplace options together with the G-Roar and lively multicontour seats.

Actual launch timing hasn’t been introduced but, however the G580 EV needs to be on sale within the U.S. someday within the second half of 2024. If there’s something you wish to know concerning the electrical G-Class, or its facelifted gas-powered siblings, I’ll be on the first-drive occasion subsequent week.