Mercedes-Benz electrifies the iconic G Class
The new electrified Mercedes G Class shows that old car models do not have to die, provided they get better.
The manufacturer has announced that the original off-roader is now available with electric drive, namely with a motor at each wheel and a big battery.
Until now fans had a choice of beefy petrol or diesel engines with up to 430 kW/585 horsepower of output.
The new version does without the notorious fumes thanks to four electric motors delivering 432 kW/588 hp and is powered by a 116 kWh battery, which should enable a standard range of 473 kilometres. This makes it only marginally less potent than the petrol-driven G63.
The G's doors still clunk shut in a satisfying way and the inside has an old-school feel to it apart from the state-of-the-art MBUX infotainment system, with its twin 12.3-inch screens. The high driving position is the same too, enabling G owners to peer down on puny runabouts and hatchbacks.
The sum of at least €142,622 will be printed on the bill of sale for one of these chunky zero-emission SUVs, which looks much like an normal G with a blanked-off radiator grille.
Just like the original it's not perfect either, and electric owners will have to swallow a few compromises when it comes to everyday use. Owing to the high weight of 3.1 tonnes, the payload is limited to 400 kilos and trailer operation is not an option.
Mercedes has promised the same mud-plugging abilities for the Land Rover rival, with a nifty time of 4.7 seconds for the 0-100 km/h sprint. Top speed is on a par with other performance EVs at 180 km/h.
The E version makes the G Class one of the world's cars with the longest production run after the model was first presented in 1979.
It also breaks with the brand's new Mercedes nomenclature. Instead of being analogous to the electric EQE and EQS, the G is not an EQG, but sold as the G580.
