A team of 12 students at Nihon Automotive Technology School (NATS) in Japan have created a replica of one of the most exotic vehicles on the planet earth – the Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG 6×6.
As part of their curriculum, the students who were enrolled in the Customize Course had to present a project. Their initial idea was to create a big SUV but later the group and their teachers decided to make a replica of the Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG 6×6.
Given that the original G63 AMG 6×6 cost a whopping 80 Million Yen (approx. 4.57 Crore) very few examples are seen in Japan. The cost of modifying the Suzuki Jimny into the Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG 6×6 was estimated to be around 1 Million Yen (approx. INR 5.7 Lakh). The team of students and their professors thought it would be a perfect way to showcase their skills and in return get a cool vehicle to drive in at a fraction of the cost of the original.
The base vehicle selected to undergo the transformation was the Suzuki Jimny JA11. Two units of the Suzuki Jimny were used for this modification. Both SUVs were cut apart and the chassis was modified to accommodate one more rear axle thereby creating a 6X6 wheel configuration. The rear of the body shell was fabricated as a pickup and made to resemble just like the G63 AMG 6×6 but while the original has a double cab body, the replica retains its single cab design.
In order to make the car look authentic, the students of NATS have used original parts from the Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG 6×6. These include the front grill, front bumper, tail lamps and LED lights. Since the Suzuki Jimny is a tiny vehicle when compared to the massive G63 AMG 6×6, the students had to modify these parts and make them smaller.
The powertrain of the Jimny has not been modified. The only change carried out was to extend the fuel lines and add extra brake lines for the 6X6 wheel conversion. Even the interior is similar to the regular Suzuki Jimny except for the wooden steering wheel.
The original Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG 6×6 comes with a wooden rear deck. Since the students were on a tight budget, they painted the deck to provide it with a wooden texture. A customised roll cage was also fabricated and fitted on the 6X6 replica.
The car was showcased at the Tokyo Auto Show and got an overwhelming response. The vehicle was also inspected by the academy to make sure it is road worthy. The students have done a commendable job. Their hard work and dedication can be seen in the final product.
I do feel that instead of creating a replica of the Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG 6×6 they could have used the Suzuki Jimny’s front and retained the car’s original identity but then it wouldn’t have created such a buzz.
None the less, the replica is surely a head turner just like the original 6X6 and since this Suzuki Jimny based replica of the Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG 6×6 can be had at a fraction of the price of the real deal, I am sure the students would already be bombarded with sales queries for it.
Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG 6×6 Replica by NATS – Image Gallery
Source – TokyoTuner
