Key Takeaways
- Electric G-Class confirmed as “G 580 with EQ Technology”
- New electric off-roader will premiere in China on April 25 ahead of Auto China 2024.
- Mercedes moving away from EQ naming strategy for future electric models.
- Electric G-Class will have similar styling to gas-powered version.
Mercedes-Benz has finally confirmed the name of the electric G-Class which will be revealed before the end of the month. Originally expected to be called the EQG – as the concept car was called – Mercedes has been re-evaluating its electric naming scheme and is expected to drop the EQ nomenclature in coming years. The electric G-Class confirms this and will be officially known, at least in launch form, as the “G 580 with EQ Technology.”
As for when and where we’ll get to see the G 580 with EQ Technology, Mercedes-Benz has confirmed it will premiere in China two weeks from now at a press conference on April 25 ahead of Auto China 2024. Alongside the electric Geländewagen, Mercedes will also showcase the new AMG GT 63 S E Performance Coupe.
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A Distinct Shift In Mercedes’ Electric Philosophy
The move away from the EQ naming strategy comes in the wake of confusion caused by the range of EQ models. The Mercedes naming scheme is confusing enough to some, even without various EQ models being used for both sedans and SUVs (like the EQS and EQE). But beyond this, EQ models have been criticized for their bland and unidentifiable styling, and the divide between models like the S-Class and EQS, which are supposed to be equivalent to one another in stature but are far from that; the EQS feels less than the S-Class despite similar price tags. When we drove the EQS, we came away with the impression that Mercedes needed to drastically rethink the way it does EVs:
“Mercedes needs to have a rethink with its electric lineup. Rather than try to create entirely new products, it would be better if the EVs mimicked what’s so great about the company’s ICE vehicles.”
– Jared Rosenholtz, CarBuzz Senior Road Tester
Electric G-Class Will Have Familiar Styling
Unlike several other EQ models, the electric G-Class will have similar styling to its gas-powered compatriot, which was facelifted late last month (pictured above). By giving it similar styling and naming conventions, Mercedes is following BMW’s lead. When BMW launched the new 7 Series, the i7 debuted alongside it, looking identical in almost every way. BMW made it clear that its buyers wanted 7 Series, not something else, and so it gave them a 7 Series, allowing them to choose the powertrain they preferred without forcing them to buy a different vehicle entirely. The 5 Series and i5 followed suit.
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As for the electric G-Class, Mercedes hasn’t been shy about showing off what’s coming. Camouflaged prototypes have been displayed at a variety of auto shows and events around the world over the last year and a half, and in the run-up to the global reveal, Mercedes CEO Ola Kallenius took to the snow to demonstrate the electric off-roader’s G-Turn feature, which leverages the four electric motors to do standstill donuts at will.
