Car news, 15 Apr ’24: Electric G-Wagen won’t be called ‘EQG’, report finds WLTP is optimistic, and more – 15 April 2024
Olek Novak
Journalist
Every important car news story breaking today, one convenient read
Thanks for joining us this Monday April 15th 2024. Notably in car news today: Mercedes-Benz won’t call its upcoming electric G-Class SUV ‘EQG’, and a European report has found that cars have fallen short of their WLTP efficiency and emissions claims.
Electric Mercedes-Benz G-Class won’t be called the EQG
Mercedes-Benz has announced that after a long wait, it will not call its next G-Class SUV the ‘EQG’ but instead the G580 with EQ Technology.
Set to make its official debut at the Auto China show in Beijing later this month, the electric G580 is expected to feature four motors – one per wheel – and a battery capacity of at least 100kWh.
The near-production ready Mercedes-Benz Concept EQG
The upcoming model made headlines last year for its ability to do a ‘tank turn’, essentially a 360-degree spin by turning all four wheels independently.
Also rumoured is the possibility of a mini G-Class SUV, which could be a more luxurious rival to the likes of the Ford Bronco Sport and the Jeep Compass, among others.
Expect to hear more information about the highly-anticipated G580 with EQ Technology from April 25.
EU report finds real-world emissions fall short of WLTP claims
A European Commission report on the real-world CO2 emissions of cars and vans says that real-world emissions of petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid cars fall short of their official claimed fuel consumption and CO2 emissions figures.
The report is based on 2021 data which was collected from on-board fuel consumption monitoring devices from a sample of 600,000 cars, finding that emissions from both diesel and petrol cars are about 20% greater than the official claims from standardised WLTP test data used for regulatory purposes.
A report has found PHEVs are not being driven on electric power as much as assumed
The results were worse for plug-in hybrid cars (PHEVs) which had real-world CO2 emissions that were an average 350% higher than laboratory values – largely indicating that PHEVs are not being charged or driven fully on electric power as much as WLTP estimates assume.
Independent Chasing Cars EV consumption data shows that in the Australian context, WLTP is close to realistic for urban driving – but that highway running consumes on average about 20 percent more energy than a car’s WLTP rating.
Mercedes-AMG cooking up bespoke 745kW flagship SUV
Mercedes-AMG is building a bespoke performance SUV, and it won’t share it’s platform and electric architecture with any other Mercedes-Benz product
Autocar reports that the new electric SUV will be roughly 5100mm long and have a wheelbase of over 3000mm, and is likely to be of similar size to the existing BMW XM.
It’s been reported that Mercedes-AMG is building a bespoke performance EV
It’ll be the second model to launch on AMG’s new AMG.EA platform, following behind the Porsche Taycan-rivalling GT four-door coupe.
Both models are set to gain electric motors produced by a company called YASA, which is now owned by Mercedes-Benz. These motors reportedly produce much more power than the existing synchronous motors in current Mercedes electric cars.
The new electric motor technology and new AMG is said to be able to accommodate single-, dual-, tri- and even quad-motor setups.
Italian government says Alfa Romeo ‘Milano’ name violates law
An Italian politician says that calling AlfaRomeo’s new smallSUV the ‘Milano’ is illegal.
Revealed last week, the Milano is named after the Italian city of Milan, where the Alfa Romeo brand was born, however it will also be made in Poland – the first Alfa Romeo to be made outside of Italy.
An Italian politician says its illegal for Alfa Romeo to call its new SUV the ‘Milano’
Italy’s industry minister, Adolfo Urso, said in remarks published by Reuters that: “a car called Milano cannot be produced in Poland. This is forbidden by Italian law”, pointing to a local law that says it’s illegal to market a foreign product as coming from Italy.
According to the minister, the legislation in question – which dates back to 2003 – “stipulates that you cannot give indications that mislead consumers. So a car called Milano must be produced in Italy. Otherwise, it gives a misleading indication which is not allowed under Italian law”.
2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E reviewed
Chasing Cars journalist Zak Adkins’ review of the 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E Select was published, including his thoughts on whether the all-electric Mach-E lives up to the Mustang brand name.
In terms of positives, the Mustang Mach-E impressed Adkins with a punchy and engaging powertrain, plenty of practical features and a very generous second row.
Chasing Cars journalist Zak Adkins’ review of the Ford Mustang Mach-E Select was published
A steep price tag, sporty but firm ride around town and limited instrument cluster functionality were some of the negatives that Adkins noted during his review.
Adkins concluded by recommending the entry-level Select as the pick of the range and that the SUV is equally sporty as it is practical and spacious.
