Tag Archives: G63

This Isn’t a Mercedes-AMG G63, but It Wants You to Think It Is

The Mercedes-AMG G63 has never been subtle. It’s a rolling middle finger to understatement, a square-jawed luxury sledgehammer that somehow became even louder once tuners like Brabus and Mansory got involved. The problem, of course, is money. Real G63s already live deep into six-figure territory, and the tuned ones can cost as much as a waterfront condo. If you want the presence without the financial free fall, your options have been limited—until now.

Enter an unlikely imposter from Thailand.

A custom shop called Shana E-Sport has figured out how to bottle Brabus energy and pour it into something far more attainable. Their starting point isn’t a used Mercedes or a kit car but a Chinese-built SUV you probably haven’t seen on your local dealer lot: the Tank 300 from Great Wall Motors. And surprisingly, it works.

The Tank 300 already shows up dressed for the part. Its upright windshield, boxy proportions, and stubby overhangs give it a silhouette that’s far closer to a G-Wagen than its price tag would suggest. Shana E-Sport leans into that resemblance with a full exterior makeover that leaves very little of the original face behind.

Up front, the stock nose is ditched in favor of a redesigned fascia with a new grille, circular LED headlights, a vented hood, and a far more aggressive bumper. The intakes and splitter are pure AMG cosplay, but the execution is clean enough that it doesn’t scream parody.

The sides get boxy, squared-off fenders complete with old-school indicator lamps, while Brabus-style flares and decorative vents exaggerate the width. It’s all very deliberate and very square, just as the G-class gods intended.

Around back, Shana E-Sport fits a sportier rear bumper with an integrated diffuser, a roof-mounted spoiler, and a custom spare-wheel cover. Exhaust options range from quad tailpipes to side-mounted outlets that closely mimic the visual drama of a real G63. Rolling stock comes in the form of massive 22-inch aftermarket wheels wrapped in chunky all-terrain tires, with optional suspension tuning and upgraded brakes for buyers who want the look to be more than skin-deep.

The interior is where things get especially interesting. Even in stock form, the Tank 300 already borrows heavily from Mercedes’ design language, with a wide twin-screen digital dashboard, turbine-style air vents, and a general layout that feels suspiciously familiar. Shana E-Sport simply turns the dial up.

One of their show builds features turquoise leather upholstery paired with forged carbon trim, illuminated power-deploying side steps, soft-close doors, and a hands-free tailgate. It’s flashy, unapologetic, and exactly what someone shopping for a G63-inspired build probably wants.

Mechanically, the illusion stops short of full AMG madness. Under the hood, the Tank 300 keeps its factory hybrid setup: a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder paired with a single electric motor. Total output hovers around 350 horsepower, sent to all four wheels through a nine-speed automatic. No thunderous twin-turbo V8, no tire-shredding excess—but that’s missing the point. This is about style and stance, not Nürburgring lap times.

The real headline is the price. Shana E-Sport says a complete G63-style Tank 300 build, including the donor vehicle, comes in at about 2.5 million Thai Baht, or roughly $80,000. The Tank 300 itself accounts for around $57,500 of that, with conversion costs estimated at roughly $34,500 depending on how deep into the customization rabbit hole you go.

That’s still real money for a replica, but it’s a rounding error compared to a genuine G63, which can run anywhere from $300,000 to well north of $700,000 once market taxes and tuner excess enter the chat.

Judging by the steady stream of builds popping up on Shana E-Sport’s social channels, buyers in Thailand seem more than willing to make that trade. And honestly, it’s hard to blame them. In a world where automotive image often matters as much as horsepower, this Tank 300-based creation delivers G-Wagen theater at a fraction of the cost—and does it with enough polish to make you look twice.

Source: Shana E-sport via YouTube

Brabus XL 800 based on the Mercedes-AMG G63

The Brabus XL 800 is another outstanding creation from the German tuner based on the popular G-Class, the Mercedes-AMG G63. This SUV, capable of overcoming even the most difficult terrain, comes with a number of improvements and much more power.

The Brabus XL 800 has a ground clearance of 470 mm, which is 119 mm more than the Mercedes-AMG G63 4×4², thanks to a new suspension with portal axles, a tuned front axle, a special version of Brabus’ RideControl shock absorbers and springs. It is equipped with a Widestar carbon fiber bodykit that includes wide fenders with integrated ventilation openings, a hood, sports bumpers, a front apron, side-mounted exhaust pipes, a rear wing, retractable side steps, and additional LED lights on the roof. It sits on a new set of 22-inch Brabus Monoblock Z/HD forged wheels wrapped in Pirelli Scorpion all-terrain tires.

The interior features quilted gray leather, a Dinamica headliner, and plenty of carbon fiber accents. The headliner features gauges and additional screens for rear passengers.

When it comes to the powertrain, the Mercedes-AMG G63 is powered by a 4.0-liter V8 biturbo engine with 585 hp (430 kW) and 850 Nm of torque. The same engine, with the upgrade, now develops 800 hp and 1,000 Nm of torque, which is enough for a 0-100 km/h acceleration in 4.6 seconds and a top speed of 210 km/h.

Source: Brabus

Gallery: