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• Based on current G-Class • First EQ model to have four electric models • To be produced in Austria
Mercedes-Benz has started conducting durability tests for the upcoming EQG, an electric SUV based on the G-Class. The German automaker announced it has been using a series of prototypes which completed two years of its four-year engineering program.
First previewed as a concept last year at the Munich Motor Show, the EQG will become the ninth pure EV model in Mercedes’ product range. It will also mark a new chapter for the venerable G-Class, a mainstay in the brand’s lineup since 1979.
The New Mercedes-Benz EV will be based on the latest generation of the G-Class. Code named the W463, the EQG will be underpinned by a modified version of the ladder-on-frame chassis of the non-electric models. It will be built alongside them at partner Magna Steyr’s plant in Graz, Austria.
From a design perspective, the EQG will retain the boxy characteristic and rugged styling of the current G-Class. It will feature a few differences though, like a blanked-off grille and a new front bumper.
Powering the Mercedes EQG will be a new electric drivetrain with four electric motors. Each powering one wheel, the setup is a first among EQ models, but has been seen before in the SLS E-Cell that was sold in limited numbers back in 2013. The front electric motors are mounted quite low at each within the axle while the rear units are more inboard. This is due a new Dion style rear axle developed specifically for the EQG that provides good traction and flexibility of the suspension. Each motor can provide individual drive to the single wheel via a two-speed gearbox that offers both high and low-range gearing.
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The four electric motors of the Mercedes EQG are able to simulate the locking differentials of the G-Class. In extreme cases, the collective drive can be sent to a single wheel to maintain traction and progress. There will be 6 driving modes on offer like Eco, Comfort, Sport, Trail, Rock, and Sand. It would also offer a creeper mode that allows the driver to set a determined speed-limit during off-roading. Another attribute of this EV could be the G-turn function which is activated by a dashboard-mounted button. This makes the electric motors on side turn the wheels forward and turn it in reverse on the opposite side, allowing the EQG to perform a 360-degree tank turn. The driver can choose to turn left or right via the shift paddles.
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The four electric motors will be powered by a floor-mounted lithium-ion battery pack. Mercedes says it will be “around 100 kWh” in capacity and shares its cell technology with the EQXX Concept. The battery itself is housed within a sturdy sealed case that lets the EQG wade through water and protect it during extreme off-road driving. The steel casing also gets an extra layer of protection through carbon-fibre reinforced polymer compound to protect against big impacts like rock strikes
Read Also: Mercedes-Benz EQB All-Electric SUV to Launch in India by Late 2022