Large bumps, skid plates and a ladder frame are clearly visible.
March 14, 2023 at 6:42 p.m. ET
Fresh from our spy photographers up north, come pictures of not one, not two, but three Mercedes-Benz EQG test vehicles. One still sports the electric-themed body-hugging wrap we’ve seen before. The others, however, look more like standard G-Class prototypes with swirl camo on everything but the doors. They are of particular interest here, because our photographer was able to get a good look underneath one of their all-electric powertrains.
It’s strange not to see an exhaust system in the back or engine components in the front, but that’s exactly what we have here. Mass crashes are impossible to miss, but identifying other items is more difficult. Up front, we can spot control arms and what we think is an electronic power steering rack. Skid plates are easy to see, but we also see what looks like a front differential in the middle. We see another differential at the back, along with a large sway bar. The scale frame is also visible, ensuring that the EQG will follow the rugged paths of the G-Class.
Gallery: Mercedes-Benz EQG New Winter Spy Photos
22 Pictures
The two differentials are interesting, because we know the EQG will offer a four-motor setup with one for each wheel. This is confirmed, and these could be the engine casings. However, the rear casing seems a bit small for two. Could this be an as-yet-unknown level of EQG tuning with a three-motor design?
In addition to its undercarriage, this prototype also appears to have a different grille. It’s hidden by a camouflage mesh cover, and we can also see slight differences in the front and rear bumpers. Overall, they look a bit thicker than the blue-wrapped prototypes. It’s also worth noting that the rear fenders with the mysterious fans are gone. Whether all these changes mean a different trim level or are simply deceptive forms of disguise remains to be seen.
And it will probably stay that way for at least the next few months. We know the EQG won’t stray too far from the concept version that debuted in 2021, but it’s likely that a production EQG won’t debut until later this year as a 2024 model.
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