Christmas is approaching and Mercedes has decided to deliver the Holy Father a new Popemobile as a Christmas present. It is a unique car based on the G 580 with EQ technology.
The car is painted pearl white and Mercedes has made some modifications such as changing the rear end by removing the left rear door while keeping the right rear door. The door provides access to a raised platform, which contains a centrally placed seat that can be rotated and is height-adjustable, allowing the Pope to change position and address the audience from different angles. Behind the Pope’s seat are two more, as well as steps and a rear platform for bodyguards. There is also a solid roof available to protect the Holy Father during bad weather.
When it comes to the powertrain, the standard model is powered by a quad-motor with 587 hp (431 kW) and 857 lb-ft (1,163 Nm) of torque, which is enough to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 5 seconds with a speed of 180 km/h. It is equipped with a 116 kWh battery that gives the G-Class a range of 385 kilometers on a single charge.
“With the new Popemobile, Pope Francis is the first pope to be traveling in a fully electric Mercedes-Benz when making public appearances. This is a special honor for our company, and I would like to thank His Holiness for his trust. With this Popemobile, we are also sending out a clear call for electromobility and decarbonization. Mercedes-Benz not only stands for the special and individual – but also for consistently creating the conditions for a net-carbon-neutral new car fleet in 2039,” said Ola Källenius, chairman of the board of management of Mercedes-Benz.
Source: Mercedes-Benz
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