Get ready, the G-Wagen is going electric.
Mercedes-Benz has revealed a “near-production” look at the EQG, with evolutionary looks and the promise of enough off-road ability to match its legendary predecessors.
Under the skin, the EQG has four electric motors making undisclosed outputs.
Up front, it has a fully independent suspension, while the rear has a new solid axle adapted to house the car’s electric motors.
Although low-down torque is already a strength of electric motors, Mercedes-Benz has fitted a manually-switchable two-speed transmission for what is likely to be an electric take on low-range. Expect huge pulling power.
To make sure that’s the case, Mercedes-Benz says the electric G-Wagen will be tested on the Schöckl mountain in Graz, Austria, near where the petrol model is currently built.
It’s a 5.6km torture test featuring gradients up to 60 degrees, the completion of which earns a G-Wagen a ‘Schökl proved” badge.
Think of it as the Mercedes-Benz equivalent of Trail Rated and you’re on the money.
“In its more than 40-year model history, the G-Class has always used the most modern and suitable drive technology at the time – from the pre-chamber naturally-aspirated diesel of the early days to the AMG 4.0-litre V8 in the current top model, the G63,” said Dr Emmerich Schiller, managing director of Mercedes-Benz G.
As for how it looks? There’s no doubt it’s a G-Wagen, with an upright profile and blocky detailing, but the EQ design team has dug deep into its bag of lighting tricks to modernise it.
Most of it looks production-ready, although we’d expect Mercedes-Benz to come full circle on the square spare wheel cover when it hits showrooms.
Mercedes-Benz earlier this year announced G would become its own sub-brand.
Mercedes-Benz Concept EQG 
Mercedes-AMG G63
It joins AMG, Maybach and EQ, becoming the fourth sub-brand for the German luxury brand.
The move was revealed by Mercedes-Benz as part of a broader strategy announcement.
It’s no secret the G-Class has been a hit for Mercedes-Benz, especially in Hollywood.
The 1979-vintage Geländewagen had been developed as a rugged off-roader and quickly found favour with militaries and law enforcement agencies.
In the 2000s, Mercedes introduced increasingly on-road focused Gs like the G55 AMG which, with their trademark, boxy styling and powerful V8 engines, attracted attention from wealthy buyers.
Mercedes finally introduced a new G-Class in 2018, a ground-up redesign but which faithfully follows its predecessor stylistically.
