Car news, 15 Apr ’24: Electric G-Wagen won’t be called ‘EQG’, report finds WLTP is optimistic, and more – 15 April 2024

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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. 

Browse this issue:

• Mercedes-Benz’s electric G-Class SUV will not be called ‘EQG’ 
• Report on WLTP finds cars fall short of their efficiency and range claims 
• Mercedes-AMG is cooking up a 745kW bespoke performance SUV 
• Italian government says Alfa Romeo ‘Milano’ name violates law
• Reviewed: 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E Select 

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 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.

• 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’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 Alfa Romeo’s new small SUV 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. 

• 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.

• 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.

READ: Link to written review

WATCH: Link to YouTube video

The next issue of Car News Today will be published on Tuesday 16th April at 4.30pm Sydney time.