All-electric Mercedes-Benz G-Glass to debut in next few years, says Källenius

MANILA: Mercedes-Benz Cars chief executive officer Ola Källenius has said that the all-electric version of the G-Glass sports utility vehicle (SUV) can be expected in the “next few years.” Speaking to CarAdvice, Källenius said that the popularity of the G-Glass has “transcended” the rest of the market in the last few years. The company, he said, has already started the concept work for the electric vehicle (EV).

The G-Glass was introduced in 1979. There have been several talks about its discontinuation in the past four decades. However, with the demand for SUVs rising globally, the G-Class has clocked good sales numbers. In 2019, the company sold 34,912 units, leading to a sales increase of over 60 percent.

However, the luxury SUV has not been one of the most fuel-efficient cars in the market, with both the G63 and the G500 models returning a paltry mileage of 23 km for every gallon in the combined cycle.

Källenius, in November, had confirmed that a zero-emission G-Class model was on its way. He also promised that a number of new plug-in hybrid and EVs will be introduced by the Stuttgart-headquartered company in the coming years.

The G-Class already exists as an EV in the Austrian market as Kreisel Electric has taken out the car’s internal combustion engine (ICE), replacing it with an electric powertrain. The car produces 483 bhp and attains 0-62 mph in 5.6 seconds. The car is powered by two battery packs with a combined capacity of 80 kWh, returning a mileage of 186 miles in a single recharge.

Källenius admitted that the cost structure of EVs is higher than cars hauled by an ICE. But with the volumes of EVs rising, the company will be able to reap the benefits of scale, he added.

While being one of the most expensive cars in the Mercedes-Benz portfolio, the all-wheel-drive (AWD) G-Class is hailed for its superb balance, ground clearance, stability, and robust off-road capabilities. Its current version is hauled by a 4.0-litre motor which produces 568 bhp and 850 Nm peak torque between 2,000-5,000 rpm. The engine is mated to a 7-speed automatic transmission (AT). The car commands a price of Php 10,590,000.

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