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Mercedes-Benz has continued a near century-long tradition by delivering a new Popemobile to the Holy Father, based on the latest electric G-Class.
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Pope Francis has been given a new custom car on the occasion of the Jubilee of 2025 – an event which occurs every 25 years.
Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Kallenius delivered the Popemobile personally this week, with the vehicle based on an electric G580 with EQ technology – customised in collaboration with the Vatican.
Mercedes-Benz has supplied cars to the Vatican for almost a century, with several Popemobiles being based on the G-Wagen over the past four decades – used by Popes John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis.
It's also not the first electric Popemobile, with Renault donating two Popemobiles based on electric Kangoo Maxi ZE people-movers back in 2012.
His Holiness has been known to shun overt displays of luxury and wealth, using an older Ford Focus from the Vatican motor pool for trips within the Holy City in years past, and has been seen driving a 1984 Renault 4 – a personal gift from an Italian priest.
While the electric G580 uses four electric motors to produce a combined 432kW and 1163Nm – allowing a 0-100km/h time of 4.7 seconds, potentially making it the most powerful Popemobile in history – Mercedes-Benz says the vehicle has been "adapted to the particularly low speeds required for public appearances".
The Popemobile is essentially a ute, with a central swivel seat mounted in the bed – with a rear-hinged door on the right-hand side for access – along with steps and two inward-facing seats at the rear for the Pope's security detail.
Designed as an open cabin, the pearl white G-Wagen comes with a removable dome hardtop which can also be fitted "in case of rain or bad weather".
It's expected approximately 33 million Catholic pilgrims will descend on Vatican City for Jubilee 2025.
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Ben Zachariah is an experienced writer and motoring journalist from Melbourne, having worked in the automotive industry for more than two decades. Ben began writing professionally more than 15 years ago and was previously an interstate truck driver. He completed his MBA in Finance in early 2021 and is considered an expert on classic car investment.
