The Electric G-Class Has Four Motors and an Insane Amount of Torque

After four, five, six, eight, and twelve cylinders, there's finally a G-Class with no cylinders at all. In place of a combustion engine, the purely electric Geländewagen packs four motors—one for each wheel. It's still an off-roader through and through, and in some cases, it's even more capable off the beaten path than the gas model.

Although the design has been largely carried over, the G580 with EQ Technology hides major changes underneath its oh-so-familiar skin. Those four motors are good for a combined 579 horsepower and a massive 859 pound-feet of torque. That makes it the new king of the hill, packing an extra 2 hp and 232 lb-ft over the AMG G63. And because this is an EV, that torque kicks in instantly.

The quad-motor setup enables a 0 to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds, or four-tenths of a second slower than the gas-powered AMG version. Flat out, the electric G is electronically capped at just 112 mph. But you're not buying a G-Class for its straight-line acceleration or its top speed. The off-road chops remain its main asset. Mercedes claims a maximum fording depth of 33.5 inches. That's 5.9 inches more than the G550 and G63.

The electric G can climb lateral slopes of up to 35 degrees and offers 9.8 inches of ground clearance between the axles. It’ll easily tackle rough terrain with its 32.0-degree approach angle, 30.7-degree departure angle, and 20.3-degree breakover angle. Much like the normal G-Class, it can climb up to a 100 percent grade. No, that doesn't mean it can climb vertically. That equates to a 45-degree angle, as grade is a function of rise over run.

The off-road goodies vary from a low-range mode courtesy of a shiftable two-speed transmission to a crawl function. A feature called the "G-Turn" is marketing jargon for a tank turn, which refers to the vehicle's ability to rotate on the spot. Virtual differential locks made possible via torque vectoring are included, as are adaptive adjustable dampers. There's also a G-Steering function to significantly reduce the turning circle and get yourself out of a sticky situation.

The G580 with EQ Technology gets a front independent suspension and a solid rear axle along with underbody protection that makes use of