The Mercedes G-Class is a classic, there is no doubt about it. The Geländewagen, which G stands for in G-Class, began to be built in 1979 in cooperation with the Austrian firm Steyr-Daimler-Puch. Initially, it was known as the Puch G. Since then, it has come in numerous models and versions. As the G-Class has such good off-road capabilities, it has been a highly appreciated vehicle within the military in several countries.
COUNTRIES INCLUDING SWEDEN. IN SWEDEN IT IS KNOWN AS TERRÄNGBIL 14/15.

Instead of paying around £200 for a full tank in an AMG G63, you'll pay under £50 for a fully charged battery in a G 580. When the price difference is this big, it suddenly becomes fun to put your foot down.

The rumour has been circulating A while back, there was talk of an electric version of the G-Class, and now it's here. After having test-driven it, and at the risk of sticking my neck out, I dare to claim that the Mercedes-Benz Geländewagen in electric format is among the best and coolest things you can get on four wheels right now. Mercedes-Benz G 580, as it is called, is truly absolutely wonderful. I have test-driven many cars and of course also the Mercedes AMG version of the G Class. AMG G63 I really loved it, apart from the hole it creates in the wallet due to its incredible fuel consumption. The problem with fuel economy is blown away with G 580.

You absolutely don't lack power and, on top of that, you have all the power from the start, but you don't see the banknotes blowing away with every metre you continue to keep the accelerator pressed down. Instead of paying around £2,000 for a full tank in the AMG G63, you'll pay under £500 for a fully charged battery in the G 580. When there's such a big price difference, it suddenly becomes fun to accelerate. In 2018, the G-Class received an update. What they managed to do was retain what was most charming about the model while improving what was perhaps a bit outdated. If you were familiar with the model from before, you could immediately tell that it was an updated version of G-Wagen. Mercedes still managed to maintain the appearance perfectly, so much so that an untrained eye might easily confuse the models. There is now no difference on the G 580, which looks exactly the same as the regular petrol or diesel-powered version. In 1993, a AMG version of the G-Class. It was then based on a G 500 with an enlarged bore V8 engine from 5 to 6 litres and delivering 326 horsepower. But this article is now about its electric sibling, the G 580.

A TECHNICAL TWIST
The technology is definitely not lacking in the G 580. It has pretty much everything and then some. Because what new and super-modern car can do a 360-degree turn in exactly the same spot, a so-called “tank turn”?

However, whether the Mercedes G 580 Sedan is necessary and useful is another question entirely. But it is fun. I did have to sign papers when I picked up the car stating that I absolutely would not do
on hard ground like asphalt, the car apparently can't handle it. But on a sandy pitch down in Vadstena at my friend Thomas Kümmerling's, who is building HMC Classic It went well. It became a 30-centimetre deep circle after I tried to make one “Tank turn” with the Mercedes G 580. When I apologised and asked Thomas if he had a spade I could use to fill the hole back in, he laughed and replied that it was fine and that he had a digger he would use to sort the hole out later. On a full charge, the car is stated to deliver a range of 470 kilometres. You won't achieve that if you drive normally and it's cold like it is here in Sweden half the year. But then again, you won't get that far on a full tank in a Mercedes AMG G63 either. I understand that I don't belong to the customer group that drives a Mercedes G-Class regardless of whether it runs on petrol or electric. For that customer group, it probably doesn't matter whether it costs 500 kronor or over 2,000 kronor to drive 400 kilometres. Then a genuine Mercedes AMG G63 fan would say that it can't be the same experience with a quiet electric car as with a potent V8 engine. But it actually can be. The Mercedes G 580 has an artificial sound that actually sounds really good, like a V8 engine.

This time, His Majesty the King was probably busy looking at the Mercedes-Benz G 580 that His Majesty the King encountered, and not at me

A Royal Meeting
The picture taken on Norrbron which goes between Gustav Adolfs Torg and to the Royal Palace, which was taken on the way down to Riddarholmen where I did the photo shoot of the Mercedes G 580. As I drove over the bridge, I noticed that the flag on the palace was not raised. Most people know that this means His Majesty the King is not at home at the palace. As I turned right just below the palace, I noticed a light blue BMW M8 Competition Coupé driving down from the palace, closely followed by a black Volvo XC90. Since I know that this is precisely the kind of BMW His Majesty the King owns and drives, I looked into the car very carefully as we passed each other. And sure enough, there sat His Majesty the King and Queen Silvia, who were probably on their way to Drottningholm to spend the weekend, as this was a late Thursday evening. As an interesting anecdote, I dare to claim that if
The King had looked into the Mercedes G 580 and seen who was driving, he would have recognised me. This was due to my years as Polestar's team photographer when Prince Carl Philip drove for that team in the STCC series. Once at the STCC race at the Falkenberg track, which the Prince also won, The King was present. The King's Marshal of the Court was going to introduce me to The King but was then interrupted by The King, who said: "I know who James is", flattering! This time, The King was probably busy looking at the Mercedes-Benz G 580 that The King encountered, and not at me.
It's always hard to return a car after the week you've borrowed it from the manufacturers. Returning the Mercedes G 580 was especially difficult. This car is truly complete. If you live in the city and aren't going to drive long distances, this car will fit you like a glove! So when I get rich, perhaps the Mercedes Benz G 580 and I will meet again.

MERCEDES BENZ G 580 WITH EQ-TECHNOLOGY
Motor Electric.
Max system output: Battery 120 kWh, of which 116 kWh is usable.
Lad effect AC/DC 11 kW/200 kW.
Heat pump. Power: 587 hp (432 kW), total torque 1164 Nm.
Gearbox Transfer case, four-wheel drive
Acceleration 0–100 km/h: 4.7 secs.
Top speed 180 km/h.
Range 434 km.
Luggage volume 620–1,990 litres.
Weight 3,010 kg
Measurements Length 4,620 mm, width 1,930 mm, height 1,990 mm.

Price: From 1,725,000 kronor. The version we tested was the Edition One, with a price tag of 2,273,700 kronor.