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All-electric Mercedes G-Wagen to appear in Munich

Expect it to be called the EQG and have plenty of on-demand torque

Matthew Guy
Aug 30, 2021  •  August 30, 2021  •  2 minute read  •  Join the conversation
2020 Mercedes-AMG G63

The electrification of Mercedes-Benz seems to be continuing apace, with those in the know telling us that an EV variant of the mighty G-Wagen – likely to be called the “EQG” – will appear at next month’s International Motor Show in Munich.

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As a major cornerstone of the brand’s identity, Merc engineers and stylists will surely be working overtime to imbue the EQG with an appearance fit for the electric age but one not too far from the square-jawed face that’s so popular in Hollywood and other moneyed parts of the world.

While the company will probably take a planer to some of its hard edges, it remains highly unlikely it’ll reinvent the classic two-box design, which isn’t fundamentally all that different than when the model first appeared over four decades ago.

Look for a solid single-piece grille up front, probably backlit with a smattering of illumination and snazzy light signatures, like the ones we’ve seen on other all-electric Benz vehicles — most notably the EQB crossover. This type of beak helps aero efficiency and permits stylists a bit of leeway, since airflow to a hot internal-combustion engine is no longer required. By the way, official all-electric names in the Merc family like EQB and EQS is why most gearheads figure a battery-powered G-Wagen will be called a “EQG.”

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Platforms, motor configuration, and battery capacity are all kept under wraps for now. However, it is totally logical to suggest the off-roader will utilize some variant of the twin-motor configuration found in top-rung EQS sedans, good for at least 516 bhp and 631 lb-ft of torque. There are rumblings Mercedes will plug motors and batteries into the G’s current ladder frame rather than deploy a low-slung EV architecture for risk of ruining its off-road chops. This, of course, neatly ignores the fact that most G-Wagens only ever experience the likes of Rodeo Drive and Savile Row.

The 2021 International Motor Show Germany is scheduled for September 7 through 12 in Munich, barring any COVID-19 flare-ups causing a last-minute cancellation à la New York .

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