When Mercedes makes its G-class SUV electric next year, most likely as a 2025 model, purists will have plenty to complain about. But, as usual, this strange off-roader’s future depends on how well it can adapt to new technologies. The latest EQG design shows the production vehicle will resemble today’s gas-powered G-wagons. It will look like a fancy box on wheels and drive well on any surface. It should be able to make up to 600 HP. The EV will have a body-on-frame design with an independent front suspension and a live axle in the back, but there are few other details. Videos of a test mule making a “G-turn,” as Mercedes calls it, on dirt show that an electric motor will drive each wheel. Together, these motors should be able to do the same job as the front, Centre, and rear locking differentials. Even with the extra weight, 500 to 600 horsepower and at least 250 miles of range would be a safe bet. The most recent G63 model we drove had 577 horsepower, weighed almost 5800 pounds, and reached 60 mph in 3.8 seconds. The V-8 rumble of the present G will be lost when it is converted to electric power. Screens, maybe with a different name If this SUV’s face wasn’t so chiseled, it should be able to move through the air better. The new Mercedes entertainment system will likely take up most of the space inside the five-seat EQG. The electric G-wage might not be called EQG because the company will soon stop using EQ-based names. Instead, we expect to see Benz- and AMG-branded cars with starting prices between $150,000 and $200,000. We’ll be among those who hope that portal axles are in the works for a more durable type.
