Could AMG do its thing with the electric Mercedes G580?

The long awaited, fully-electric Mercedes-Benz G-Class has finally been revealed to the world, and at the star-studded launch event TG took the chance to ask AMG CEO Michael Schiebe about Affalterbach’s plans for the 4x4.

Sadly there’s no reason to get daft and giddy just yet: Schiebe says they “have not decided” if there will be an AMG-ified electric G yet (boo), with the focus very much on developing its AMG.EA performance platform for now.

“We will come out with an electric AMG in the middle of the decade and make sure the DNA of emotion will be carried out.”

Schiebe went on to say that an electric AMG would need to have “continuous performance”, alluding to how EVs tend to get high marks on initial acceleration but lack lasting grunt. 

An AMG-worthy G-Wagen also faces another big hurdle: weight. “Here in the US, it doesn’t matter how heavy the car is,” Schiebe explained, whereas in Europe anything tipping the scales at more than 3,500kg requires a special licence.

Given the careful balancing act already going on to make the electric G worthy of the name, adding AMG levels of oomph on top is another headache the engineers would have to solve.

In better news, the weight issue goes out the window when developing wacky variants for markets not limited by rules or money. So while an electric G-Wagen in the form of something like the staggering G63 6x6 isn’t being chatted about internally, it’s not out of the question either. Woo hoo!

What might surprise you is that a convertible G580, while also not officially in discussion, is on Schiebe’s mind: “I think there is a market for electric convertibles,” he says. “Because it’s a completely new experience, driving and quietness… I used to have a Smart convertible electric many years ago, it was perfect.

“We are also opening up a new market: hunters. It’s so quiet,” joked Schiebe.

Precedence has been set by the G500 Cabrio that existed in the European market, so it’s not a leap to think there could be a drop-top version of the electric G if enough people ask for one. Quick, someone get a petition going immediately.