Who is the electric G Wagen – 2025 Mercedes-Benz G 580 with EQ – for? The price has not been announced yet, but it will certainly be high-priced. The range has not yet been announced, but in the European test cycle it reaches 400 km, which means that Environmental Protection Agency will probably rate it around 250. It’s not significantly different from the combustion and hybrid versions, but as it turns out, that’s all by design.
According to Mercedes-AMG CEO Michael Scheibe, it has to be a G Wagon first, regardless of the powertrain. This means that its off-road capabilities and iconic shape are a priority. Scheibe says Mercedes could have made it more aerodynamic by changing the shape, but then it wouldn’t be a G Wagon.
Visually, the main differences between the electric G-Class and other models are an illuminated radiator grille frame, a higher bonnet line and minor changes to improve aerodynamics – slightly changed A-pillar trim, a tiny roof spoiler and air curtains on the rear fender flares. Inside, electric vehicle-only controls, such as turning the car in place, are located where the differential lock buttons should be. That’s it.
Scheibe admits there may be electric vehicles that accelerate faster or charge faster, but the G-Class must retain its ability to drive on four wheels. In Europe, vehicles weighing more than 3,500 kg (7,716 lb) cannot be driven with a standard passenger car driving licence. The Mercedes came to the line with a curb weight of 7,716, which includes a carbon fiber composite and a 127-pound skid plate that protects the battery from rocks. Turning from this point, the size of the battery was determined by the weight limit, and the range was circumscribed by its shape. Mercedes doesn’t even try to match the Hummer EV’s 381-mile range. To see full specifications, click here.
It might not matter anyway. Mercedes says the G-Class is a car for everyone. German carpenters who buy diesel cars as trucks are at one end of the spectrum. However, on the other side are the lifestyle buyers and that’s where the money is. There’s a reason why Mercedes decided to launch the electric G in Beverly Hills. A quick drive around the neighborhood and you’ll find that the G-Class is a more generous SUV than the Chevy Trax. Naturally, there is not a speck of mud on any of them.
Mercedes reckons most electric G Wagons will be the second or third car in a household, so maximum range isn’t that crucial. G Wagon owners don’t rely on it as their only means of transportation. For longer trips, these owners will have other options.
This may change along the way. The company invests in charging networks operated by Mercedes or Mercedes partners in the US and China. They have already started in Europe. Mercedes realized that the network wasn’t growing quick enough in the places their customers wanted to go. As an example, Scheibe cited a planned network along highways leading from major German cities to Austria, a popular ski resort.
The target customer base of the G 580 with EQ technology explains its exposure among celebrities and influencers. The car appeared on a lake shrouded in fog pumped out by arid ice machines, and Travis Scott climbed onto the car to attend a mini concert. Several classic G Wagons were also on display, including an original 1979 model with Puch badges and one that we were told was owned by Kendall Jenner.
Puch is now Magna Steyr, the company that maintains and builds the G-Class in Graz, Austria, mostly by hand. One of the Mercedes representatives explained that there is only one robot in the entire factory. This allows for a lot of customization if you want your G-Class to be neon yellow, but also flexibility.
This flexibility will come in handy as the whims of the electric vehicle market ebb and flow. Mercedes will be able to adjust, to some extent, the proportions of the ICE and electric G Wagons it builds. Sure, the hand-built process is a bit slower, but the company sees that as an advantage. They like to keep supply low and demand high.
Related Video:
