Four electric motor, four gearboxes … this gee-whizz off-road battlewagon even goes big with its name. 

KEEPING the upright appearance of the old while modernising everything else has long been the formula, but in latest evolution Mercedes’ G-Wagen really has joined a new revolution, having gone electric.

Unveiled internationally, including having pride of place on the brand’s stand at the Beijing motor show that opened yesterday, the car everyone imagined would be called EQG - but is actually the ‘G580 with EQ Technology’ (cos they’re steering away from the whole ‘EQ for electric’ naming culture) - this four-motor monster is set to become the new ride from the old client base.

That is, those with money and a penchant for attention who have for years sought out the G with AMG badging and powerful V8 petrol engines under the upright bonnet.

Mercedes Benz regional people at last week’s media launch of another big banger that’s taken a new turn - the C63 AMG sedan - were loath to discuss introduction planning for the latest G-wagen.

However, they left impression the NZ scheduling is for this year and didn’t dismiss that arrival would pretty much tie to Australia. The neighbour has now said it will take supply of this car, and updated fossil fuel variants, from around October.

The G580 is set to site as the flagship, not just because it takes the high ground on technology pedigree but also it is the most powerful G-Class ever produced, with  432kW and 1164Nm – 2kW and a significant 314Nm more than the latest 4.0-litre V8 AMG version - and is said to be more adept off-road than any other model.

So it’s a heavyweight that’s also, unavoidable due to 530kg big battery, rather hefty. Benz says the G580 clocks 3085kg, a reason why the claimed 0-100kmh acceleration time of 4.7 seconds is slightly slower than the V8's 4.3s.

The electric evolution is literally that. It uses a modified version of the petrol’s ladder-frame chassis, with the battery pack modules - the same as those in the EQS luxury limo - packaged within the underpinnings so it can serve as a structural component of the vehicle, negating the need for additional stiffening.

The battery capacity is 116kWh but the G-Wagen’s bluff body means driving range is a claimed 434-473km in European WLTP testing. An EQS luxury sedan with the same battery pack is good for 820km. Can’t beat aerodynamics, right? Even though it has been reduced by 04Cd (and has aero-optimised alloys), the drag co-efficient remains a brick-like 0.44Cd.

DC fast charging at up to 200kW is claimed – 10-80 per cent recharge time of 32 minutes, or 170km of range in 15 minutes of charging – as well as 11kW AC home charging.

The motors each have their own two-speed transmission with low and high-range transmission, and allows for 'virtual' differential locks – through torque vectoring – in place of mechanical units.

The low-range mode activates a 2:1 reduction gear for off-road use in Rock mode – at speeds of up to 85km/h – while there is an off-road 'cruise control' function which maintains a desired speed of up to 25kmh on uphill or downhill surfaces, controllable using the steering-wheel paddles.

Never fear about taking all this ohm oomph near water. A wading depth of 850mm is 150mm greater than petrol G-Class variants. It has 250mm-plus of ground clearance, and 32-degree approach, 20.3-degree breakover and 30.7-degree departure angles and is capable of driving on sideways slopes with angles up to 35 degrees, and up 45-degree inclines.

BTW the battery seems well protected. The car has a 26mm-thick underbody panel made of "an intelligent material mix that includes carbon" – claimed to be stronger, and a third of the weight of a steel alternative – which weighs 57.6kg, and is attached to the ladder frame with more than 50 screws.

The suspension in the G580 is double-wishbone independent front and rigid De Dion axle rear, aided by adaptive dampers shared with petrol and diesel versions.

Comfort, Sport, Individual, Trail and Rock drive modes avail as well as 360-degree cameras with a 'transparent bonnet' function which displays obstacles directly in front of the vehicle that the driver cannot see over the bonnet.

G-Steering, G-Turn and G-Roar are electric-specific. G-Turn uses the four motors – spinning the wheels on the left and right sides of the car in different directions on loose surfaces – to let the G580 'spin' on the spot. It is only available when the car is in low-range and Rock modes.

G-Steering also acts to reduce the turning circle on loose surfaces in low-range mode at speeds up to 25kmh.

G-Roar? You already knew the answer. It’s a synthesised driving sound "inspired by the model family's emotional V8 sounds," which changes based on drive mode.

As said, overall the electric looks just like the petrol and diesel siblings, but not wholly. As is usual it has a face of its own, this presenting as a new front grille panel with four slim horizontal louvres, available in black, with an illuminated surround. In place of the rear-mounted spare wheel, it takes a rectangular storage box which can store charging cables, tools or snow chains.

Inside, the electric G-Class features a pair of 12.3-inch screens running Mercedes-Benz's MBUX software, plus open-pore natural walnut wood trim, a new-generation steering wheel with touch-sensitive controls, and ambient lighting. There’s an AMG Line package with wheel-arch flares, 20-inch wheels and stainless steel highlights. Nappa leather upholstery and colour-contrasting stitching also avails, as do Superior Line interior and Night Package exterior packs.

The car pictured is in an Edition One trim that brings thestorage box, 20-inch wheels and silver and black nappa leather upholstery.