The GMC Hummer EV and Mercedes-Benz EQG are two of the most exciting EV SUVs to come to the market. Both electric versions of military-derived off-roaders they stand toe to toe. The Hummer EV comes from GMC and came to the market in November 2021, a relative of the Chevrolet Silverado EV the Hummer has been received well. The EQG is the next generation of G-Wagen, not currently on the market details of the EV are sparse. Infrequent marketing materials hint that the vehicle will dominate the competition. When it comes to low-speed maneuvers the German marque's EV remains the best.
Cars are bigger than ever before. With the need to pack in more safety features as well as new features cars had to grow. Yet in very few places have the roads, parking spaces, or lanes. With more congestion and larger vehicles, this effect is twofold. Now reaching a breaking point manufacturers introduce new technology to help navigate the most inhospitable terrain, the city. Every large luxury SUV launching over the next few years will offer increased city usability. Some brands will offer simpler systems, for example, the new Range Rover will only come with a four-wheel steer system. Whereas others will leverage their new EV form.
With engineering magic, Mercedes' largest EV will turn on a dime.
What Is The Mercedes EQG Tank Turn?
Mercedes-Benz flagship SUV the G-Wagen began life as a humble military vehicle. But just like its considerably cheaper counterparts as found in the Land Rover Defender and Jeep, the G-Wagen evolved into a status symbol. These days the G-Wagen will find itself cruising around the expensive section of the monopoly board. Parts of London like Mayfair and Kensington but also appear in Miami and Los Angeles. The Mercedes EQG takes the chunky body style of the G Wagen and takes their pioneering EV technology as found in the EQS SUV.
Recently, Mercedes-Benz released a video which suggests that the upcoming all-electric EQG will be capable of Tank turns Tanks have tracks that can turn in opposite directions to rapidly turn a vehicle around. According to ASV Mercedes Benz, "The car rotates completely on its axis" using a similar system. Featuring on their YouTube channel the short video shows the car spinning completely around with wheels on opposite sides of the vehicle turning in different directions. Mercedes keep details concerning the upcoming EQG close to their chests. This tank turn doesn't appear to use a four-wheel steer system and instead torque distribution like the luxury adventure EV the Rivian R1T.
Demonstrated in a patch of desert where there's little to crash into the car turns up plenty of sand. For the occasional EQG that finds itself off-roading, it can quickly get out of a sticky situation, turn and go back the way it came. For most EQGs the car now has impressive maneuverability, be that for three-point turns, parallel parking, or showing off to your friends.
What Is Hummer's Crabwalk?
Mercedes were not the first to introduce a system like this. The new Hummer EV from General Motors has a similar system. Called Crabwalk at launch, it appeared in another short video on the GMC YouTube channel. Clearly understanding the urban audience of the Hummer EV it rolls down a back alley before encountering a workman's truck in front of it. Some bins sit to the left of the driver and reduce the space that the large Hummer can get through. At a low speed, all four wheels turn and the car scurries diagonally in a crab-like manner. As a result, according to GMC, the Hummer EV is the King of Crabwalk. A perfect system for those who need to get in and out of tight street parking.
The Hummer's four-wheel steer system will also turn the rear wheels when the car drives at low speeds. But in Crabwalk mode, all the wheels turn in conjunction enabling excellent low speed mobility.
Why Is Mercedes-Benz Tank Turn Better Than Crabwalk?
Quite simply Mercedes' system offers much greater maneuverability than the Hummer. Completely turning on its axis, quite literally turning on a dime, likely won't see frequent use. The car still offers much greater improvements than the Hummer. Although one must consider price differences. The Hummer EV retails for $89,995. The Mercedes-Benz EQG has no official price yet but customers should expect to pay over $200,000. Costing double the Mercedes-Benz EQG would have to have a few more features up its sleeve. The model should also match the EQS SUV's range of 380 miles and perhaps even the 800 liter boot space. Perhaps the EQG will even match the legendary G63's 3.9 second 0-60 mph time.
Although this tank turn system does have some drawbacks. The short video demonstrates this system on a sand surface. Importantly a looser, slippier terrain that encourages vehicles to enter big, fun slides. On the tarmac spinning a vehicle around has different effects. With the potential for excessive tire wear. Furthermore spinning a G-Wagen around still uses plenty of space and in tight car parks and residential streets could easily cause some expensive accidents.