We know the idea of tank turn is not new. In fact, Tesla promised the Cybertruck would be able to complete zero-radius turns, like a tank, since it was first revealed. The Cybertruck, however, is not in production just yet, nor is the feature. Rivian liked Tesla's idea and decided to make it real on a test mule, but neither the R1T or the R1S can be ordered with this technology. That takes us to Mercedes and its future EQG - the all-electric version of the G-Class. The electric SUV is powered by four electric motors, which gives it the ability to perform a tank turn with relative ease. And, while we have this video of the Mercedes doing some cool turns, it’s still impossible to say if the technology will make it to production.
The EQG Will Come With Four Electric Motors And Lots Of Technology
The G-Class has always been an icon for Mercedes, so the company will want to keep the EQG just as relevant. We know a lot of people buy the G-Class just for on-road driving, but its main purpose is off-roading. And making an electric vehicle just as off-road capable is a bit of a challenge. Most of Mercedes’ EVs are offered with two or three electric motors, but such a system wouldn’t work in the EQG. Instead, the model will be offered with four electric motors, one powering each wheel. It might be a little costlier than the system Mercedes already has, but it should improve its off-road performance significantly.
This system will also make the EQG capable of performing tank turns without a problem, just as you can see in the video below. The company even promises the model will be able to do the famous spot turn on all kinds of surfaces, including sand and snow. But the EQG is not going to be a light car. With the current G-Class weighing around 2,650 kilos (around 5,842 pounds), it is safe to assume the EQG will easily go into the 3,000 kilos (6,600 pounds) range. Now, imagine the damage such heavy machinery will do to the ground when performing the tank turns. And, EVs are supposed to be environmentally friendly – which means performing spot turns will contradict its purpose.
Whether Mercedes will offer this feature in the EQG remains to be seen. Until then, check the video below and see how well it can perform on and off-road. It almost makes us believe the EQG will be a better performer than the model it replaces, but we won’t know if that will ring true or not for a few more months as Mercedes is expected to do more testing on the model.