KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- The G 580 is the all-electric G-Wagen, and Merc is not calling it the EQG.
- The G 580 is famous for its G-Turn feature.
- The G 580 was shown in its concept form at the previous Bharat Mobility Expo.
- It is powered by four electric motors, one placed on each wheel individually.
- Power figures stand at a mammoth 579bhp and 1164Nm of torque.
Mercedes-Benz India looks set to begin 2025 with a bang, having confirmed that its electric G-Wagen, known as the G 580, will make its India-debut on January 9. The Mercedes-Benz G 580 is said to be better than its combustion-powered sibling in terms of off-roading, but we still have some time to verify those claims.
In the meantime, let's uncover a few details about the electric Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen, but first, make sure to join the 91wheels WhatsApp Community to keep up with the latest news and updates from the automotive space!
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Mercedes-Benz G 580 - Details About The Electric G-Wagen!
Design
The electric invasion has caught up with the G-Wagen, and Mercedes-Benz has decided not to mess too much with the design of the original SUV. The G 580 retains the boxy shape and silhouette of the combustion-powered G-Wagen, but with a few altered details here and there.
The grille has been replaced by a closed-off panel, and it also features an illuminated border, along with a slightly raised hood and new A-pillar cladding. 18-inch alloy wheels with 5 twin-spoke rims are available as standard. Another key highlight is the square-shaped box which carries the charging equipment for the G 580, and it replaces the stepney at the rear.
Frame and Hardware
Similar to its combustion-powered sibling, the electric G-Wagen is also built on a ladder-frame chassis, featuring an independent front suspension and a solid-axle setup at the rear. A solid-axle setup is said to provide enhanced grip and better wheel articulation. Over bad roads and situations involving plenty of suspension travel, the solid-axle setup helps keeping the top of the tyres completely flat and does not change their angles. However, this setup is also said to affect the vehicle's ride quality.
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Battery And Charging
The G 580 is backed by a 116kWh battery pack, with a WLTP-claimed range of 473km on a single charge. This battery can be juiced up via either a 11kW wallbox AC charger, or a 200kW DC fast charger. While the AC charging times remain unspecified for now, the 200kW DC fast charger takes a claimed time of 32 minutes for a 10-80% charge.
The electric G also receives three separate charging programmes; Home, Work, and Standard. Buyers can set or customize different parameters such as climate control, departure times, and maximum charge level.
Power And Performance
Powering the electric G-Wagen are four electric motors, one individually placed close to each wheel. Let's point out one interesting fact here; the reason the electric G-Wagen is called the G 580 is because the name foreshadows the car's power output. This car puts out 579bhp and 1164Nm of torque. When converted to hp, the power figure stands at an exact 580, hence the name. It can also complete a 0-100kmph run in a claimed time of 4.7 seconds, while maxing out at a restricted top speed of 180kmph.
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Interior And Features
The electric G obviously does not retain the all-white interior of the Concept EQG, but the layout is still rather similar. It features a 12.3-inch blended screen display for the instrument cluster and the infotainment, and some other equipment includes augmented reality-based navigation 20 G-Class specific voice commands, two 11.6-inch screens for the rear passengers, a dashcam, a unique 'off-road cockpit', a transparent bonnet function, virtual differential locks via torque vectoring, the G-Roar sound experience with G-Class specific driving sounds, off-road crawl mode, and the G-Turn, which we can expect to become quite famous over time.
The G 580 is unlikely to have any direct rivals at launch, and even globally it seems to enjoy a segment entirely to itself for now. However, Land Rover is preparing an all-electric Range Rover as of now, and an EV Defender might be on the cards next. As for the pricing, we can expect it be around the Rs 2 crore mark, or even higher (ex-showroom).
Verdict
The electric G-Wagen is certainly going to generate a lot of buzz on social media once it lands here, and we expect the G-Turn to become a social media sensation. Whether it retains the off-roading chops of its combustion-powered sibling is something we will be finding out soon enough, so stay tuned!
