L.A. Launch Get together, Automotive Particulars

Out of all of the automobiles on the highway right now, there may be maybe no automobile extra related to Los Angeles than the Mercedes-Benz G-Class — that tall and boxy bank-vault of an SUV which hasn’t actually modified form or measurement because it was first launched by Mercedes-Benz in 1979 because the Geländewagen. The primary G’s have been made for the trades, rescue providers and the navy, and Mercedes-Benz likes to tout the truth that greater than 80 % of the G’s ever made are nonetheless round on and off-roading.

This all-purpose, go-anywhere automobile has, all through the years, had a glow-up or two — and what 45-year-old within the limelight hasn’t. However, at Los Angeles’ Franklin Canyon Park above Beverly Hills on Tuesday, April 23, Mercedes-Benz confirmed off their newest iteration, one which has had G-Wagen fanatics ready on tenterhooks: the G 580 with EQ Know-how, the primary all-electric G-Class mannequin.

In entrance of a star-studded crowd — that featured Bradley Cooper, Kendall Jenner, Tracee Ellis Ross, Selma Blair, Ciara, Beef‘s Joseph Lee, Madelaine Petsch, Trevor Noah, Travis Bennett and Saweetie — Travis Scott carried out on prime of the brand new G 580 on a stage floating smack-dab in the course of Franklin Canyon Park’s lake. The bash was excessive and one celebration planning skilled estimated that the occasion price ticket, with look charges included, was within the $15-$20 million vary. The automobile had a simultaneous unveiling at Beijing’s Auto China 2024.

When requested why the G-Wagen nonetheless stays a perennial favourite among the many Hollywood set — with an extended wait time to accumulate one on the seller — Michael Schiebe, CEO Mercedes-AMG and head of Mercedes-Benz G-Class & Mercedes-Maybach Enterprise Items informed The Hollywood Reporter in an unique interview, “I believe it’s due to the DNA of the G-Wagen — it’s a really versatile automobile and it’s nonetheless so particular. Though we have now upgraded the automobile to go along with the instances, the G-Wagen has a personality that’s so totally different to what you’ve got available in the market, there’s nothing comparable with the G-Wagen and that makes it so particular.”

Schiebe jokingly added, “After I mentioned the automobile was made for professionals in rescue providers, the trades and the navy … these days, the G-Wagen continues to be for professionals however now they’re singers and actors.” 

For the primary ever all-electric G-Class, Schiebe defined that there “have been no vital adjustments to the design of the automobile, as a result of that is what our clients love after which it must have the identical off-road capabilities and the identical robustness — so with this, you’ve got already outlined 75 to 80 % of the automobile — after which we mentioned, let’s see what the electrical drivetrain can present in further options so it might hold its DNA.”

That DNA — every part from the comforting sound the doorways make while you slam them shut to the low-growl of the engine, the insane off-road capabilities and the actual fact it’s constructed on the identical ladder body because the gas-powered G-Class — have all been saved and up to date for the digital period. For instance, the engine noise is now referred to as “G-ROAR” and contains G-Class-specific driving sounds, corresponding to an “aura” and numerous “occasion” sounds.

And as an alternative of the collection of locking differentials, the electrical G-Class generates digital differential locks through torque vectoring that allows distinctive driving features for off-road use, together with the meme-ready G-TURN function, the place with some minor steering wheel changes, the G 580 can do full 720-degree rotation.

Jonny Lieberman, senior editor at Motor Development and a co-host of the “Spike’s Automotive Radio” podcast, shared his ideas on the brand new version: “Reality: 99 % of G-Wagens by no means go away the pavement. Additionally truth, the G63 is essentially the most environmentally unfriendly automobile you should purchase. Mercedes’ answer? Introduce a way more succesful all-electric off-roader that appears virtually precisely like each different G. The imply streets of Beverly Hills are about to get loads cleaner.”

The G 580 with EQ Know-how — which is able to hit the sellers later this yr in a restricted “Version One” guise — has an estimated vary of as much as 290 miles because of the 116 kWh high-voltage, lithium-ion battery that powers the 4 individually managed motors positioned close to the wheels. Like its fuel powered brethren, the G 550 and G63, which is able to nonetheless stay on sale, the all-electric G-Wagen has the identical can-do spirit baked proper in. Pricing for the electrical G 580 hasn’t been introduced but it surely gained’t be cheap — because the G 550 begins at $143,000 and the G63 at $183,000 — or straightforward to get.

As for a way one can receive an all-electric G-Wagen, Schiebe shared, “I used to be in a gathering with a few of our sellers right here they usually already mentioned, ‘Michael, we want extra G-Lessons.’ I mentioned sure, I’ll do my greatest. However typically, I believe that is additionally what makes a G-Wagen so particular, you may’t simply go someplace and simply get one, since they’re restricted in manufacturing.”

In different phrases, count on it to be the most recent automobile equal of a Birkin bag or the newest Rolex. Provides Schiebe, “You simply need to be an excellent buyer and wait a bit of little bit of time after which you’re going to get one …”