Mercedes-Benz SA has launched its silent however potent new electrical Geländewagen, the primary zero-emission mannequin of its iconic off roader. Dubbed the G580, the battery-powered SUV is priced at R4,647,456 and supplied alongside the petrol-powered G63 AMG (R4,414,916) and the diesel G450d (R3,557,169).
Recognisable by a gloss black grille and a squircle service on the tailgate that can be utilized to retailer charging cables, the G580 has a 116kWh lithium-ion battery pack built-in into its ladder body chassis. It’s contained in a water/grime resistant casing and powers 4 individually managed motors situated at every wheel.
The motors provide a mixed output of 432kW and 1,164Nm of torque — practically as a lot energy however significantly extra torque than the turbo V8-engined G63 (445kW and 850Nm), which is ready to silently blast the 3-tonne electrical G-Class from 0-100km/h in simply 4.7 seconds and onto a ruled prime pace of 180km/h.
The electrical G-Class is a good higher off roader than its combustion-engined stablemates, says Mercedes, as a result of the 4 electrical motors are in a position to extra exactly regulate the facility output at every wheel with torque vectoring to supply most traction on demanding trails. The motors cast off the necessity for differential locks and a separate switch case, saving weight and complexity.
I drove the G580 this week on the media launch in Gauteng, beginning with a difficult off highway course on the Zwartkops race observe. A towering 250mm journey peak, an 850mm fording depth and long-travel suspension give the electrical Benz a powerful foundation for tackling obstacles, but it surely has various digital tips to make it much more nimble on robust trails.
