For those who prefer to grind gravel and bound over boulders while surrounded by luxurious napa leather — and can’t imagine emitting even a single molecule of carbon dioxide while doing so — the fully electric Mercedes G-Wagen is for you.
Technology
The Mercedes G-Wagen, the ultimate off-road status symbol, goes electric
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25413855/pre_media_24c0076_005.jpg?ssl=1 "The Mercedes G-Wagen, the ultimate off-road status symbol, goes electric")
The very expensive, boxy status symbol is now even status symbol-ier thanks to a 116 kWh battery and all-electric drive train, complete with four individually controlled motors with a maximum total output of 432 kW — or the equivalent of about 580 horsepower — and a max torque 1,164 Newton-meters.
“I recently joked that it’s like the Birkin bag of Mercedes,” Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius said on the Decoder podcast back in 2022. “Everybody wants one, and the waiting time is really long. It may even be the most desirable car in our portfolio.”
But with great power comes great expense. The Mercedes-Benz G 580 with EQ technology (an ungainly name for an exotic EV, but I’ll allow it) will start at €142,621.50 ($152,184.27), while the first edition trim goes for €192,524.15 ($205,432.89). That’s a premium over the gas models, which typically start at around $143,000. At launch, the Edition One trim will be exclusive to the US market and will arrive at dealerships in the second half of 2024.
The G 580, or EQG if you will, will be built on a ladder frame concept, which the automaker says is fundamental to its off-roading. Like its gas-powered equivalents, the ladder frame includes an independent front suspension with double wishbones, as well as a newly developed rigid rear axle for a lower center of gravity. The battery will propel the EQG to an estimated 473 km (293 miles) on the WLTP standard, which will likely be even lowered when based on the less optimistic EPA rating.
The electric G-Wagen will come with a whole caravan of nifty circus tricks, including a tank turn (which Mercedes has branded its G-Turn) for sharper, on-axis rotations. G-Turn will work on loose, unpaved roads and trails and only at low speeds. And a three-speed intelligent off-road crawl function will keep the electric SUV at the optimal speed while traveling over uneven surfaces. And Mercedes boasts that the EQG will remain stable on slopes up to 35 degrees and has a maximum fording depth of 850 millimeters (33 inches).
Of course, all that off-roading requires extra protection for the battery, which is stored in the floor of the vehicle for that low center of gravity. Every grain of gravel is a potential hazard when you’re driving around with a two-tiered lithium-ion battery with 216 cells installed in 12 cell modules between three cooling levels under your feet.
The underbody skid plate, which is unique to the electric G-Class, is made from “an intelligent material mix” that includes carbon, which “increases rigidity compared to alternatives made from steel or aluminum,” the company says. It also ensures long-lasting corrosion protection and saves weight. The plate is 26 millimeters thick, weighs 57.6 kilograms, and is attached to the ladder frame with more than 50 steel screws.
And in what is becoming an increasingly normal thing to do with new EVs, Mercedes has decided to give its electric G-Wagen a fake engine noise, branded here as G-Roar. Inspired by the gas lineup’s “emotional V8 sounds,” the G-Roar will use external speakers to emit a sound that simulates the “deep bass and sonorous tones” of its fuel-sipping sibling. The sounds can change when switching between drive modes: Comfort produces a more restrained fake engine noise, while Sport will hit you right in the feelings (Mercedes also describes it as “emotional”).
Even with an emphasis on off-roading over performance, the G 580 with EQ technology (nope, still ungainly, going back to EQG) is no slouch on the pavement. The electric SUV can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds and will be electronically limited to a maximum speed of 180 km/h (or 112 mph).
The exterior is nearly identical to the current model year of gas-fueled G-Wagens. You do get illuminated accents on the grille, which also can be replaced with an optional blacked-out front panel. The bonnet is slightly raised, and the rear wheel wells include air curtains for better aerodynamic performance. There’s also a new A-pillar cladding and a spoiler lip on the roof. But otherwise, it would be difficult to pick out the EV in an all-G-Class lineup.
A rear-mounted design box looks ideal for a spare tire, but open it up and — surprise! — it’s charging cables and other optional goodies, like snow chains. Of course, if you want to be a traditionalist, you can absolutely stow your spare tire in there. No judgment.
Inside, the electric G-Wagen is sticking to what works, keeping the passenger grab bar and surrounding everything with carbon fiber. There are plenty of physical buttons, and the air vents are delightfully tactile and circular. The pedals are covered in raised rivets because, you know, off-road. And the 12.3-inch digital display runs on Mercedes’ well-received MBUX infotainment system — but also supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Rear-seat passengers can enjoy a variety of media on their personal 11.6-inch touchscreens that are mounted on the back of the front seats. Content can be moved from the rear to the front display — but video watching and internet browsing are reserved for parked mode only.
The electric G-Wagen first emerged in concept form back in 2021 and then again in 2022, despite the company’s lack of clarity around production plans. (To compensate, Mercedes released a ridiculously high concept promotional video set in a 1970s-era space opera with aliens.)
But since then, there have been a lot of electric off-roaders, including the Ford F-150 Lightning, Chevy Silverado EV, Hummer EV, and Rivian R1T and R1S. Whether any of these vehicles actually spend a single second doing real off-road stuff — as opposed to picking up grass fertilizer at The Home Depot — is entirely up for debate. The electric G-Wagen will likely be no different, as the boxy SUV has always been seen more frequently in the driveways of the über rich than on the trails in Moab.
Still, the EQG is a sign that while it has pulled back some of its early predictions about electrification, Mercedes still understands that even its super luxury status symbols will need to go electric.
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Make no mistake, the Bastl Kalimba is a synthesizer, you just play it like a kalimba. Its tines don’t really make much sound. There is an internal mic that you can blend in for a little acoustic spice, but it’s mostly driven by the synth engine that combines physical modeling and FM. The tines are actually touch and velocity-sensitive triggers. And, while it can sound somewhat like a real kalimba, it’s a lot more sonically versatile and offers features you can only find on a synth.
Beyond the synth sounds that range from pluck to pads, there are also built-in effects covering basic spatial effects like delay and reverb, as well as distortion, bit crushing, and even tape emulation. There’s also a multi-mode high- and low-pass filter, a simple arpeggiator.
More interesting, though, are the looper and touch points that add unique effects. The looper has time-stretching features, can be reversed, and rerecorded through the effects for destructive processing. A series of touchpads on the front enable note glides and alter the timbre using effects that Bastl calls Soil and Wind. Those effects unlock the Kalimba’s accelerometer for further timbral manipulation. There are also two programmable touch points on the top that can be assigned to almost any parameter, from simple pitch bends to the size of the reverb.
Bastl is currently running a Kickstarter campaign for the first batch of Kalimbas. Normally, this is where you get the caveats about crowdfunded products. But Bastl Instruments is a well-established company with a long track record of delivering oddball music gear at scale. The company called it “one of the most challenging” products it has ever created, and it spent more than three years in development, so it’s possible that Bastl is gauging interest before committing to mass production. We’ve reached out to Bastl for comment and will update if we hear back.
Food delivery drones launch in NJ
FOX Business correspondent Madison Alworth reports on drone food delivery services launching in New Jersey on ‘America Reports.’
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Want two large pizzas and drinks at your door in just over four minutes? That is now possible, as long as you live in the right place.
Flytrex has partnered with Little Caesars to roll out a new kind of delivery. Instead of a driver, your order arrives by drone, still hot and fresh from the oven.
There is one catch. The service is currently live in Wylie, Texas. If you are not there, you will have to wait a bit longer. Still, this gives a clear look at where food delivery is heading.
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ROBOTS ARE TAKING OVER UBER EATS DELIVERIES. IS YOUR CITY NEXT?
A Flytrex drone carries a Little Caesars order through the air, showing how pizza can now be delivered straight from the sky. (Flytrex)
How Flytrex drone delivery works step by step
The process feels familiar at first, then quickly shifts into something very different. You open the Flytrex app and check if your home falls within the four-mile delivery zone. If it does, you build your order just like you normally would, choosing up to two large 16-inch pizzas along with sides and drinks, as long as everything stays under the 8.8-pound limit.
Once you place the order, it goes straight into Little Caesars’ system. This is the first time a drone delivery platform connects directly to a restaurant’s point of sale, which speeds things up behind the scenes. The store prepares your food as usual. Instead of handing it to a driver, the order is picked up outside through what Flytrex calls remote pickup. The drone collects it curbside and takes off.
From there, everything is automated. The drone flies to your home, usually in about four and a half minutes. When it arrives, it hovers above your yard and lowers the food down on a wire. There is no landing and no face-to-face handoff.
Sky2 drone features that make pizza delivery possible
The system works because of the new Sky2 drone, which was designed to handle full meals instead of small packages. It can carry a full family-sized order in one trip, including two large pizzas, sides and drinks. That alone sets it apart from earlier delivery drones that could only handle lighter orders.
The drone uses an octocopter design with eight motors, which gives it redundancy in flight. If one motor has an issue, the others can keep it stable. It also runs on a dual battery system for added reliability.
Navigation relies on satellite positioning with real-time corrections, allowing it to move with a high level of precision. Its onboard AI continuously monitors the flight to keep everything running safely from takeoff to delivery. The range is designed to cover nearby suburban neighborhoods, which helps keep delivery times fast and food fresh.
DELIVERY ROBOT AUTONOMOUSLY LIFTS, TRANSPORTS HEAVY CARGO
A Little Caesars order is secured for drone pickup, replacing the need for a traditional delivery driver. (Flytrex)
Why faster pizza delivery could change habits
Speed is what makes this stand out. A delivery that takes just minutes changes how people think about ordering food.
For anyone who prefers picking up pizza to keep it hot, this starts to remove that tradeoff. You can get the same freshness without leaving your house. That alone could push more people to order in rather than drive.
It also removes traffic delays and long delivery routes. The drone flies directly from the restaurant to your home, which cuts out many of the usual slowdowns.
“Flytrex is laser-focused on making on-demand food delivery by drone a reality for everyday families,” Amit Regev said. “A big part of advancing this market is making sure people can get the food they actually want, when they want it. Until now, drones simply weren’t capable of delivering a full family meal. The Sky2 changes that.”
ALEXA+ LETS YOU ORDER FOOD LIKE A REAL CONVERSATION
The drone travels across a suburban neighborhood, covering short distances in just minutes to keep food hot. (Flytrex)
Where drone food delivery is available now
Right now, this service is limited. Wylie, Texas, is the first place where you can order two full pizzas by drone through this partnership.
That said, Flytrex isn’t starting from scratch. The company has already completed more than 200,000 deliveries across the United States, including ongoing operations in North Carolina, where residents place more than 1,000 orders each month.
Drone delivery is also expanding in other parts of the world and in select U.S. markets. Companies like Wing, Amazon, GrubHub and Manna, and Manna are all pushing into new areas, which suggests this will not stay limited for long.
The delivery is lowered safely to the ground by wire, completing the drop-off without the drone ever landing. (Flytrex)
What this means for you
Even if this isn’t available where you live yet, it is moving in that direction. Faster delivery could become the new expectation, especially for short distances. Food may arrive hotter and more consistently since it avoids traffic and long wait times.
Ordering could also feel easier as systems connect directly with restaurants, reducing delays between checkout and preparation. At the same time, you may start to notice more drones overhead. That raises questions about noise, safety and how often these flights will happen in residential areas.
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Kurt’s key takeaways
Drone delivery has been discussed for years, yet this feels like a turning point. The ability to deliver a full meal removes one of the biggest barriers that held the idea back. This rollout shows how quickly things can shift once the technology matches everyday needs. It may not be in your neighborhood yet, though the pace of expansion suggests it will not stay that way for long. Little Caesars’ VP of innovation, Trish Heusel, summed it up this way. “Partnering with Flytrex to bring full family meals by drone delivery is a major leap forward and a clear example of how we’re pushing the boundaries of convenience, speed and accessibility in our category.” For now, the future depends on where you live.
Would you order pizza more often if it showed up hot at your door in under five minutes without a driver? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.
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I’ve got to thank my oldest friend and concert buddy, Tim, for turning me on to this one. Ashnymph is a London band that blends post-punk melodies with Krautrock rhythms and industrial grime. Their debut EP, Childhood, drifts between dreamy vocals buried in layers of reverb and four-on-the-floor dancefloor pounding. It’s a thrilling opening salvo from a band that feels on the cusp of a major breakthrough.
Childhood opens with an ambient recording of someone walking down a hall (I think), and some swirling synth noise before the first song, “Island in the Sky” kicks off properly with a motorik beat and bass throb. The thin, digitally manipulated vocals and robotic groove punctuated with bursts of noise, but the big chords of the chorus bring to mind Black Rebel Motorcycle Club’s “Whatever Happened to My Rock and Roll.”
“Saltspreader,” the band’s first single, is next. It launches with a deep metallic grind splattered by clanking percussion and drum hits, before a soft synth arpeggio brings some melody to the party. In the back half, there are deeply chorused vocals that ooze ‘80s goth, driving guitar, and a disco stomp. Despite its slow build, it’s clear why the band chose this as their first single. It’s dark, dancey, and an absolute earworm.
“After Glow” leans even further into ‘80 fetishism, recalling Depeche Mode and early Ministry, before Al Jourgensen discovered guitars. “47” marries industrial beats with chipmunk vocals and off-kilter guitars in the vein of No Wave acts like Swans. But the last-minute switch to a half-time groove removes the more abrasive layers, letting the beauty of the guitar melody shine through while ethereal vocals float over the top.
The last track, “Mr. Invisible,” is possibly the most experimental of the bunch. It’s more explicitly electronic than the rest, relying on heavily manipulated samples, indecipherable vocals, and a relentless bass thump for the first chunk. Eventually, clearer vocal melodies and circular guitar lines play off the polyrhythmic synths. The whole thing is disorienting, dizzying, and exhilarating. It ends somewhat abruptly on a lopsided guitar groove and an echoed vocal, leaving me wanting more. So much more.
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