At the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week event last weekend at The Exchange TRX, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM) took the opportunity to show off one of its most stylish models, the fully electric (EV) G580 with EQ Technology, on the runway.
The car was completely covered in a purple decal, perhaps to emulate the other models on the runway dressed in exotic outfits, but the QR code plastered on its rump reveals that the fully-electric Gelandewagen will lead you to a website for registrations of interest.
Not that they’re really hiding anything with the camouflage, though, as the Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ Technology (yes, that’s the full name) still looks pretty much identical to its internal combustion engine-powered counterparts, save for a handful of different trims.
The main differentiator is, of course, its powertrain. To keep with the G-Wagen’s modus operandi, Mercedes-Benz has replaced the engine with a total of four electric drive motors on the G580. Two motors are enclosed together in a housing at each axle, with drive sent to the wheels through dual-joint shafts to help ensure a consistent camber even when the suspension is compressed during off-road drives.
READ MORE: All-new Mercedes-Benz G580 debuts as first EV G-Class – 587hp quad-motor AWD, 473km range
Each motor comes with its own two-speed transmission, and is capable of outputting a maximum of 147 hp. Altogether, the electric powertrain on the Mercedes-Benz G580 boasts a total system output of 587 hp and 1,164 Nm of torque. The latter is nearly 37% higher than that of the AMG G63, although that’s probably more for countering its weight difference.
In performance terms, the electric G580 reaches 100 km/h from a standstill in 4.7 seconds, reaching a limited top speed of 180 km/h flat out. The 116 kWh battery pack translates to a driving range of 473 km (WLTP), and can be recharged from 10-80% in 32 minutes using a 200 kW DC charger, or AC charging at up to 11 kW, taking 11.8 hours to go from 10-100%.
As with all G-Wagens, the new Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ Technology is also built on a ladder frame chassis, with extra reinforcements – especially surrounding its batteries – to increase battery safety and prevent ingress of water and dirt especially while off-road. The rear suspension has also been redeveloped – in a De-Dion layout – to cater the electric powertrain to the rougher terrain.
Given that imported EVs still currently benefit from tax exemptions, could we see the fully-electric Mercedes-Benz G580 in Malaysia be priced nearer to the RM1 million mark, rather than the RM1.95 million that its petrol-powered G63 sibling demands? With the luxury-focused Mercedes-Maybach EQS680 SUV priced from RM1.09 million, we think it’s definitely a possibility – if it arrives before the year end!
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