Mercedes-Benz EQG will remain true to its origins with performance and body-on-frame

23 October 2022

The G-Class, known as G-Wagen or G-Wagon and used by European armies and police forces, adopted as symbol status by many across the world is about to enter the electric age. Don’t expect many changes though, Mercedes is being very careful about the image of its longest selling 4x4 and the car will remain true to its roots - ladder frame with body on top, excellent off-road abilities and frightening performance on the road coupled with premium price.

The Concept EQG that has been shown off by Mercedes so many times, will enter production in 2024 in a virtually unchanged form. Slightly modernized lights, LED grille and very slightly smoothed out corners are all the changes Mercedes was brave enough to introduce. The interior is getting an update as well but at this point it seems the Hyperscreen will not be offered on the EQG. Not a big loss, in all honesty.

The chairman of Mercedes-Benz. Ola Källenius, drove the car on the off-road proving grounds in Austria and this is what he had to say about that experience:

“It was mind boggling. I know I'm raising expectations here, but I was so excited stepping out of that car that I cannot wait for the electric G to come. It was so competent, so easy to ride in. It will have phenomenal performance on and off the road, coupled with the most energy dense battery we can find in a vehicle that is slightly aerodynamically challenged in terms of its drive co-efficient.”

Aerodynamically challenged is quite an understatement - G-Class, and so the EQG as well, is as aerodynamic as a brick house. It doesn’t matter much at slow speeds in the off-road environment. Its exceptional capabilities take over and you forget that you're driving a square tank. But it is on the road where the G63 for example, breaks all the laws of physics. At this point we can only imagine what the EQG will be like to drive, all we know it will be faster.

Initially the EQG will come with a standard battery pack but Mercedes is already talking about the new tech coming in 2025. The LFP batteries will offer up to 40 percent higher energy density than what Mercedes electric cars can offer now. The EQG will need all of it to be able to deliver a usable range but even with its first edition models relying on the current tech, it will be an experience to drive it.

Little preview of what the EQG will be capable of, courtesy of Motor1:

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