Electric drives are establishing themselves in more and more areas of our mobility. E-cars will soon be conquering steep slopes and wasteland: real off-roaders, not SUVs. These five are announced.
In view of the initially small ranges, the conquest of the e-car initially concentrated on the city. With growing batteries, the autobahn was soon added. Next, Stromer will also head into the wilderness. Meanwhile, some purely electrically powered off-roaders are announced. Real off-roaders, mind you. No SUVs.
Mercedes-Benz EQG
The G-Class from Mercedes is one of the great icons of the off-road scene. In mid to late 2024, the Stuttgart-based company also wants to send its legendary four-wheel drive giant on an emission-free crawl tour. With a ladder frame, independent wheel suspension at the front and a newly developed rigid axle at the rear, it will go on the prowl as the uncompromising off-roader EQG. Unlike the conventionally powered G-Class, it will even be able to turn like a "Leopard" tank on the spot if the pair of wheels on the outside of the curve is programmed to rotate backwards and the colleagues on the other side move forward.
Exactly which drive technology will be used in the EGQ remains secret for the time being. The EQS with 484 kW/658 hp is ideal as a gene donor. Whether the EQG, which will certainly cost more than 150,000 euros, will still be able to put its hand to the performance screw remains just as open as the question of range and battery size.
Munro MK_1
Even before the EGQ, the Scottish company Munro Vehicles wants to launch the MK_1, which they say is the most off-road capable electric all-wheel drive vehicle ever. The North British promise almost half a meter of ground clearance, a meter fording depth, 88 degree departure angle and two-speed transfer case with lockable center differential and solid axles.
There will also be a powerful drive with 280 kW/376 hp and 700 Newton meters of torque. The battery with over 80 kWh storage capacity allows a range of up to 260 kilometers. Converted around 76,000 euros should cost the Scottish Stromer.
Jeep Magneto
Jeep also has e-mobility firmly in its sights and unveiled its first production model with battery-electric drive, the Avenger, in October, which will be on the road in early 2023. And probably primarily on the road, because the Avenger is an SUV and not an off-road vehicle. But the Americans are tirelessly nurturing the hope of a purely electrically powered Kraxler like a Wrangler.
The Magneto concept car, which Jeep has already presented in two versions, indicates what that could look like. The Magneto 2.0 presented in June came on powerful 40-inch wheels and with around 460 kW/625 hp and 1150 Nm of torque.
Unusual for an electric car: the six-speed manual transmission to give the driver maximum control over the vehicle off-road. It is unclear whether and when the purely electric Magneto will be followed by a series counterpart. At this year's presentation of the study, Jeep design boss Mark Allen repeatedly emphasized the very positive reaction of the conspired fan community to the Magneto.
Bollinger B1
Early electric off-road prospects include the Bolliger B1, which looks like a reincarnation of the old Land Rover Defender. It was announced in 2017 and in 2019 its series production. At the beginning of 2022, the US startup even put plans to build the B1 on hold. When Mullen Automotive took over the scepter at Bollinger in the summer, they were thawed again.
When the B1 is coming, however, has not yet been revealed. In any case, the off-road community has every reason to look forward to the robust box, because with permanent all-wheel drive, high ground clearance, long suspension travel and powerful off-road tires, it also promises a high level of off-road capability. The two engines of the B1 are said to deliver 265 kW/360 hp and 640 Newton meters, which allows a sprint from zero to 100 km/h in under five seconds and a top speed of over 200 km/h.
Ineos Grenadier
With the Grenadier, the British company Ineos has launched an off-roader that also bears a certain resemblance to the old Defender. This is already being produced with a diesel engine and will be on the market in Germany at the beginning of 2023. In addition, the young car brand is planning electrically powered off-road vehicles. A Grenadier prototype with a fuel cell drive was presented by Hyundai in 2021.
For Ineos boss Jim Ratcliffe, hydrogen propulsion is the future. In addition, the Briton has announced a battery-electric off-roader from the Ineos brand in 2022, which will be slightly smaller than the Grenadier.
There are still no details on the drive, range or a possible market launch for either candidate. But in both cases it will not be an SUV, but also a real off-road vehicle.
