Mercedes-Benz to showcase EQG electric SUV concept at Bharat Mobility Expo

Concept EQG based on the current G-Class.

By Akbar Merchant, Autocar India

24 Jan 2024

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Mercedes-Benz to showcase EQG electric SUV concept at Bharat Mobility Expo

Mercedes-Benz India has announced that it will showcase the EQG electric SUV concept at next week’s Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2024. The Expo will be held between February 1-3. The brand will also have the new AMG GLE 53 and the refreshed GLA SUV on display.

Concept EQG previews future G-Class EV

As the name suggests, the Concept EQG is the all-electric derivate of the G-Class, which will see a global debut sometime this year. Visually, it bears a relation to the current internal combustion-powered G-Class, however, a closer look reveals styling tweaks that bring it in line with Mercedes-Benz’s new EQ range of all electric cars and SUVs. The EQG made its debut at the Munich motor show last year and Mercedes-Benz had said at the time that the concept is a near-production iteration of a G-Class-based EV.

It gets a solid panel with a 3D star pattern replacing the front grille; bespoke 22-inch aluminium wheels; and a storage box in place of the spare-wheel-carrier, designed to look like a wall box charger. However, unlike other EQ models, it skips a frunk. The concept’s roof rack houses a bright LED strip along its front edge to hint at the potential for this electric G-Class. The concept is underpinned by the same ladder-frame chassis as the G-Class with independent suspension at the front and a rigid rear axle.

Mercedes-Benz Concept EQG battery and performance

The EQG concept gets four individually controllable wheel-mounted motors, while a two-speed gearbox offers low-range and high-range gearing. Mercedes-Benz has hinted that this quad-motor powertrain will be carried over into production.

The battery is integrated into the ladder-frame to ensure a low centre of gravity. As far as performance goes, the EQG will eclipse the current V8-powered AMG G63’s 0-100kph timing of 4.5 seconds, making it the most powerful and fastest G-Class when it goes into series production in future.

EQG to get unique G-Turn function

The production SUV will also get a G-Turn function, activated by a dashboard-mounted button that makes the electric motors on either side turn the wheels in opposing directions, allowing the EQG to perform on-the-spot 360-deg tank turns. The driver can select whether to turn left or right via paddleshifters on the steering wheel.