As proven by the 6×6 Peterbilt semi we featured yesterday, six-by-six conversion are nothing new. However, with social media always looking for something fresh, you’ll find such transformations for a wide array of machines from across the world. However, almost none of those cars have the off-roading heritage of the Mercedes-Benz G Wagon. And that’s just one of the things that sets apart the Apocalypse 6×6 Mercedes-Benz Cerberus that was unveiled just a few hours ago.
You may be familiar to Florida-based Apocalypse Manufacturing, which has given the six-by-six treatment to the Jeep Wrangler/Gladiator (aka Hellfire, Sinister 6 or Doomsday), the Ram TRX (Warlord or Juggernaut) and even the Ford Bronco (Darkhorse pickup truck).
Well, we thought that was the complete list of vehicles Apocalypse is converting using a Florida Jeep dealership’s shop. However, things started to change earlier this week, when Apocalypse Manufacturing showcased a first-generation, late-model G Wagon that had been transformed into one of their lifted six-by-six truck behemoths on social media.
And, earlier today the specialist upped the ante by introducing the machine you see here. This is a second-generation G-Class (introduced in 2019) and this time around we have a name and a price.
Apocalypse 6×6 Cerberus
Enter the Apocalypse 6×6 Cerberus, which in this case is based on the Mercedes-AMG G63 and will set you back a whopping $519,999. We asume this includes the base vehicle, which in this case is a 2019 example that had 38,000 miles on it when the transformation was done. For the record, the 2023 G63 comes with an MSRP of $179,000.
And since we know how much folks love comparisons, we’ll mention that, for half a million dollars, you can buy almost any two of the conversions from the original list above.
Nevertheless, this is a G Wagon, a model whose off-roading roots go back to the 1930s. The German automaker can be credited for giving serious momentum to the current 6×6 trend almost a decade ago when it introduced the Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG 6×6. However, the automaker’s six-wheeled work can also be traced back to the 1930s. We’re refering to the Mercedes-Benz W31 type G4, but it’s worth noting that this was a 6×4 and part of the company’s darker history, as it was built for the Nazi high command.
Apocalypse Manufacturing tells us this is the world’s first second-gen G63 6×6 featuring a Kevlar exterior coating—the lightweight, ultra-strong material making up the new “shell” (again, a scratch-resistant coating rather than body panels) is finished in gun metal grey.
However, the overfenders that swallow the monstrous wheels and go-anywhere tires come in carbon fiber, as is the case with the OG factory G63 6×6. By the way, the latter remains one of the rarest and most desirable trucks to this day, packing ground clearance-boosting portal axles and many other features that set it apart from other OEM or custom application. However, you’ll have to pay between $500,000 and $1.5 million for one of these. Oh and hey, we heard the production 2023 Porsche 911 Dakar will feature portal axles, but this is another story for another time.
The pickup truck conversion involves a chassis elongation, with the bed sitting at 4 inches in legth, while the fully-power-delivering middle axle is one featured in all of the company’s creations.
It should be uber-sturdy
Speaking of which, you might be wondering about the strength of such a 6×6. Well, this dirt ramp jump test done with the Apocalypse 6×6 Ram TRX owned by the Triple F collection has proven the durability of the conversion—the driveshaft did get disconected after repeated air tricks, but they simply hammered it back in place and it seemed to work fine.
As for the G63 itself, the massive and repeated abuse YouTuber WhistlinDiesel has subjected his example to proves that the military DNA of the original G-Class is not lost with the new generation.
While multiple engine mods like twin-turbo kits exist for the vehicle’s Affalterbach 4.0L twin-turbo V8, there’s no mention of that here. For the record, the stock output of the G63 sits at a hefty 577 hp and 627 lb-ft of torque.
And yes, the Apocalypse 6×6 Cerberus does come with a roll cage, which somehow makes us thing of a spiked collar for a machine named after the multi-headed watchdog of the underworld that the name represents in Greek mythology.
