The 2024 Beijing Auto Show is in full swing, cheekily referred to as the CEO show. Of course, by the time it opens to the public, we will no longer see the big shots. Still, with over 200 new cars displayed at this show, it’s definitely worth a look, and there’s a very interesting phenomenon to discuss.
I used to firmly believe that while electric vehicles have been developing rapidly, they mainly occupy the high ground in the field of passenger vehicles. In some specific scenarios, gasoline vehicles still have their irreplaceability. However, at this Beijing Auto Show, I suddenly found that some of the proud fields of gasoline vehicles are also full of electric vehicles, such as pure electric G-class, Equation Leopard SUPER 9, and Tengshi Z9 GT.
◆ Hard SUV: Mercedes G 580 etc.
Mercedes-Benz EQ Mercedes EQG 2024 Model G580
First, let’s look at the off-road circle. In the field of hard SUVs, there are sacred vehicles that dominate the market at different price points and levels, and they are all gasoline vehicles. Even brands like Yangwang, Equation Leopard, and Tank have retained the existence of internal combustion engines. Until the eve of this Beijing Auto Show, the Mercedes G 580 (pure electric G-class) officially made its global premiere, making me feel for the first time that the discourse power in this niche field is likely to be handed over to electric vehicles.
The release of the G 580, I don’t know if you have seen it. At that time, I was on the scene. A G 580 stopped at the top of a 35-degree artificial ramp and slowly drove down, paused for a moment, backed up, and then drove down again. Take a closer look at the screen behind. The waterfall also flowed back with the direction of the car’s movement. Although it was just a small detail, the impact on me at the time was like ten “leading the way”. When it drove to the flat, it came lightly and turned 720 degrees G-TURN. There was no word throughout, but a sentence flashed in my mind at that time: In the hard SUV market, pure electricity can do better.
The Mercedes-Benz EQG 2024 Model G580
Next, let’s talk about the product. The G 580 adopts four-wheel rim motor technology, which is composed of 4 independently controlled rim motors and 4 electric two-speed gearboxes. The maximum combined power is 432kW, the peak torque is 1164N·m, the 0-100km/h acceleration time is 4.7 seconds (the new G 63 acceleration time is 4.3 seconds), equipped with a 116kWh battery pack, the NEDC range is about 570km.
In addition, it also retains the “traditional three-piece set”: electric virtual differential lock + non-load-bearing body + electric low-speed off-road gear, the wading depth can reach 850mm, and it has a 100% (45 degrees) climbing ability. On the control buttons of the three locks on the gasoline car, the G 580 has also been replaced with three new features that it is proud of: off-road crawl (smart off-road crawling mode): choose to go forward or backward in the process of climbing or downhill in three ways of cruise control; G-STEERING: locks the inner rear wheel through the rim motor to reduce the turning radius; G-TURN: u-turn on the spot.
It can be said that what gasoline vehicles can do, the G 580 can do better, and it is smoother and more delicate, and it can also accomplish some things that gasoline vehicles cannot do. It is also for this reason that I saw the possibility of electric vehicles replacing gasoline vehicles. As for the price, the price of this car is currently starting at 142,600 euros overseas, which is about 1.1 million RMB, and it will officially go on sale in the second half of the year.
HUMMER EV
Of course, in addition to the Mercedes G 580, there are many hard-core electric SUVs at the auto show. This HUMMER EV appeared at the Dolangge booth.
Menshi Technology Menshi M HUNTER 2024 Model Angel Partner
Menshi M HUNTER
In terms of Chinese brands, Menshi Technology brought several official modified models of Menshi 917 at this auto show, but the most noteworthy is the newly released M HUNTER concept car, which has a pre-sale price of 3.68 million. It targets top extreme off-road players and is China’s first model with wheel-side torque exceeding 20,000 N·m. It also features military-grade chassis lifting technology (wheel-side reducer), 37-inch tires, and aerospace-grade covered carbon fiber components, absolutely ruthless character!
Equation Leopard SUPER 3 2023 Model Basic Type
Equation Leopard SUPER 3 concept car
Chery New Energy Chery iCAR V23 2025 Model Four-Wheel Drive
iCAR V23
If you want to be more approachable, you can also pay attention to the Equation Leopard SUPER 3 concept car. Although the current power data of this car is relatively scarce, it is also built on the BYD DMO off-road platform. And it is a pure electric vehicle, what functions it will have in the future, let’s wait for the arrival of the mass-produced car. The last one is iCAR V23. It has a very retro and rugged exterior design and will be equipped with dual-motor four-wheel drive. As for whether it can become a god car like the Jimny in the field of electric vehicles, we need to wait for its dynamic experience before making a final conclusion.
In summary:
In fact, from the technological point of view, it is inevitable that pure electric hard SUVs will surpass gasoline vehicles. Regardless of performance or function, they can do better. The reason why I didn’t think it could replace gasoline vehicles before was partly because the battery layout affected the ground clearance, and the other was concern about mileage anxiety. Therefore, most of the new energy hard SUVs we see on the market are mostly hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and range extenders. So, as battery technology and replenishment places gradually improve, it is also the time for the era of pure electric hard SUVs to come.