Yahoo Autos Electric Mercedes G-Class updates: EQG due out in 2024 with four motors
Mercedes-Benz will add the G-Class to its range of electric vehicles in the coming years. Previewed by the 2021 EQG concept, the battery-powered off-roader will feature up to four electric motors and a level of off-road capacity that's on par with the gasoline-powered model's.
"From the start, it was decided that the electric G-Class should be at least as good as the internal combustion engine model both on-road and off-road. We didn't want to compromise on capabilities," explained Emmerich Schiller, the head of Mercedes-Benz's G sub-brand, in an interview with British magazine Autocar. He promised an "unparalleled combination of luxury and off-road ability for electric vehicles."
That's a tall order to fill, and full specifications haven't been released yet because development work is ongoing. Schiller revealed that the EQG will ride on a modified version of the frame found under the gasoline-powered G-Class and will be available with four electric motors (one per wheel). Each motor will be linked to a mechanical two-speed gearbox with high- and low-range gearing, according to Autocar.
Assigning each wheel its own motor will unlock a feature called G-Turn that sounds a lot like Rivian's much-hyped Tank Turn function. And, this layout also makes it possible to precisely control the amount of torque that each wheel receives, which is a boon in off-road conditions.
"It is incredibly precise. The individual control of drive to each wheel provides a whole new level of ability," said Schiller.
