Can't Afford a Mercedes-AMG G63? Convert a New Suzuki Jimny Into One Instead

Chad Kirchner
by Chad Kirchner

A brand new Mercedes-AMG G63 isn’t what we’d call cheap, if you can even get one. The luxury off-road monster can literally go anywhere in a style uniquely its own, but it’s big, pricey and not the most fuel efficient. So what if you want a G63 but want to get it on the cheap? You build your own out of a Suzuki Jimny.

The Jimny is the darling of forbidden fruit. It’s the opposite of the Mercedes. It’s inexpensive, frugal and small. It’s off-road prowess comes from determination and grit instead of horsepower and torque. But it is boxy like the G-Wagon. So that counts for something.

Fast Car Service out of Dubai offers this conversion for $12,250. It includes using bespoke Mercedes bits on the Jimny to make it look more like the G63. Custom components are used where Mercedes bits don’t work. What’s especially lovely is the little 1.5-liter engine in the Jimny gets side-exit exhausts just like the Mercedes-AMG version does. Though it’s safe to say they don’t sound the same.

The upgrades are nearly half the price of a brand new Jimny. Though that’s only a fraction of the starting price of a $147,500 for the full-size, full-on version of the Geländewagen.

I like the new Jimny the way it is. I like the quirky colors and simplistic interior. While I get why it wouldn’t do well in the United States, I’m not sure if I had one I’d want to drop a bunch of money into it to make it look like something else. But the quality of the Dubai firm’s work looks great and it is well executed. I feel like it’d be a great supplement to a regular G-Wagon already in the garage for those who are positioned well enough to have one.

[Source: Autoblog] [Image: Instagram]

Chad Kirchner
Chad Kirchner

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  • Dima Dima on Jul 17, 2019

    In my city (Basel) there are not many G-Klasse, I have seen more around Zurich, still, BMW is more popular around here.

  • GenesisCoupe380GT GenesisCoupe380GT on Apr 07, 2020

    Whoever came up with this idea has far too much time on their hands because this is like a lifelike replica of a Power Wheels toy

  • Nathan The Ram is the most boring looking of the full size trucks, kind of like a Tundra.If they cancel the Ram Classic, I hope a full resign makes the Ram at least look interesting.
  • DJB1 I'll be all for it when it has a proven safety record. I have an awesome life and a lot to live for, so right now I'm not putting that in the hands of overconfident tech-bros.
  • Mgh57 I had to read the article because I had had no idea what the headline meant. I've never seen this in the Northeast. Don't understand the point. Doesn't seen efficient aerodynamically
  • MaintenanceCosts Depends on the record of the company developing them. If it’s got a record of prioritizing safety over years of development, I’ll be fine with it, and I’ll expect it to be less risky than typical idiot human drivers. If it’s a “move fast and break sh!t” outfit like Tesla or Uber, no way.
  • Kwik_Shift_Pro4X No thanks. You'll never convince me that anybody needs this.
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