On this episode of our Tesla-Swap Mercedes G-wagon 2dr Convertible Monster Truck build, we’re taking it on its first drive and going on a 4000km Road trip.
Tesla-Swap Mercedes G-wagon Convertible Monster Truck Part 4 – First Drive
And here it is, This is a Tesla Swapped Mercedes G-Wagon 2dr Convertible with 4×4 squared style suspension that we’ve been building for the past few months. It’s currently at the Toyo Treadpass booth at SEMA 2023.
A rare two-door soft-top Mercedes-Benz G-Class G320 has been transformed into a Tesla-powered off-road beast. Originally showcased at SEMA 2023 alongside other Tesla-swapped builds, the Canada-based custom car shop that created the electric G-Wagen has now revealed the magic behind this EV conversion.
The build is complex, with lots of fabrication work and electrical wrangling involved, most of which is detailed via a four-part video series.
As you’d expect, the first part of the build involved stripping out the SUV and giving it a G63 conversion kit.
Extensive cutting and modifications were also done to its body to accommodate a bunch of new parts, including OSX disc brakes and calipers, a custom G Squared-style suspension with dual coilovers, a new interior, beefy offroad tires, cooling systems, and, of course, a Tesla Model S powertrain and battery cells. Interestingly, most body parts were modeled using laser cutters and 3D software.
By the third video, the builders have finished work on the SUV’s axles, suspension, brakes, and driveshaft. You’ll notice that a lot of the parts, especially their mounting points, had to be fabricated from scratch.
The lithium-ion batteries were mounted on the vehicle’s rear section housed in a cleverly designed, fully custom aluminum cage.
The electric-powered off-roader also received a smart reupholstered cabin with a couple of touchscreens and seats from a Mercedes-AMG CLA.
After appearing at the 2023 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, the electric G participated in a desert video shoot organized by Toyo Tires USA where you can see it romping in a dusty ghost town with other custom builds like a Nissan 280ZX powered by a Toyota 2JZ and a hill-climb 240Z, among others.
What we’re really interested to see is if the G Wagen EV Convertible can handle driving offroad, so hopefully the builders will return with some footage of the Tesla-powered G going off the pavement.
