With a long list of famous owners that include Kim Kardashian, Jay-Z, Steve Aoki, Pharrell Williams, Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian, Tesla's (TSLA) Cybertruck has become the 'it car' for celebrities, but a new electric version of a familiar gas guzzler for the Page Six crowd might make Elon's polygon-shaped behemoth lose its luster.
In a star-studded event in Los Angeles, Mercedes-Benz (DDAIF) took the covers off its electric G-Class 4x4 to a crowd that included celebrity owners such as model and socialite Kendall Jenner, actor Bradley Cooper and rapper Travis Scott.
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Mercedes-Benz
Officially dubbed the G580 with EQ Technology, Mercedes touts that the new electric G-Wagon provides all there is to love about its gas-guzzling sibling in a new package.
Unlike the Cybertruck, the electric G-Wagon shares a bloodline with some truly tough military vehicles. The new car uses a modified version of a ladder-frame platform used in the gas powered car, where a 116-kWh lithium-ion battery pack has been fitted.
The pack itself is made out of 0.2 inch-thick steel and is integrated directly into the frame and surrounded by a torsion resistant casing. To protect the underside of the car, a 1-inch thick panel made from a lightweight “intelligent material mix” is fitted.
Mercedes-Benz G 580 with EQ Technology
Mercedes-Benz
Bolted to the chassis is the propulsion system of the electric G-Class, which differs greatly from that of the Cybertruck. Each of the G's four electric motors produces 145 horsepower, for a total of 579 horsepower and 859 pound-feet of torque.
Zero to sixty miles per hour is dealt with in 4.6 seconds and top speed is 112 miles per hour. Mercedes also says that the electric G will have a range of about 294 miles, and can be charged from 10% to 80% charge in 32 minutes with 200-kW fast charging.
Though the performance of the electric G-Wagon seems to be good for normal on-road use, Mercedes emphasizes that it is built to be used off-road.
Mercedes-Benz
Just like its gas powered siblings, the electric G580 features off-road ready components such as suspension that can withstand extreme off-road hazards like deep water, mud and dirt. What's more, it also comes with different drive modes such as Rock and Trail modes for off-road driving, as well as another cool feature called the G-Turn Function.
In the G-Turn, the electric G-Wagon turns the left and right wheels on both front and rear axles in opposite directions to spin the car around in place.
Besides those cool features, Mercedes says that the G580 has 9.8 inches of ground clearance between the axles, can climb a 100% grade and can drive on a sideways slope of up to 35 degrees. Additionally, it can ford water up to a depth of 33.5 inches.
Mercedes-Benz G 580 with EQ Technology
Mercedes-Benz
From the outside, only a few styling tweaks indicate that you are looking at an electric G-Wagon, such as its taller hood, air curtain openings in the rear wheel arches, as well as aerodynamic wheels exclusive to the EV.
Additionally, owners can also opt for a clever extra called a 'Design Box' in lieu of a rear-mounted spare tire carrier. The box itself is mounted in the same place as the spare tire, but is designed to hold the cars charging cables and other useful tools.
Inside, the electric G-Wagon is virtually the same as the gas-powered G-Wagon, save for a few EV specific buttons. Although screens take up a significant amount of real estate on the dashboard, it is not a minimalist design that puts all functions on the screen. Prior G-Wagon owners will be right at home with the same physical buttons and switches that control critical functions like the climate control and audio volume.
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As for price, Mercedes says that the electric G-Wagon will cost the equivalent of about $128,000, though pricing for North America will be specifically available closer to when it hits dealers in the second half of 2024.
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