Bolt-on mods have turned 2020 G-Wagen into fire-breathing monster that can roar from 0 to 60 mph in under four seconds.
The Mercedes-AMG G 63 is the peak of the G-Class lineup. But true to the spirit of the G-Wagen, one G 63 owner decided to climb even higher with the output of his G 63 and turn it into a fire-breathing modified monster.
His name is Adam Chesney. To him, the G-Class is not just a flashy whim. It’s a lifestyle. He tells the host of this video, Eddie Xu, about his history with the iconic off-roader. Chesney used to have a white last-generation G 63 with custom suspension components.
Now he has a 2020 model. Like many of the vehicles he’s had in the past, it has bolt-on modifications (in this case, “full cat-less downpipes” and blow-off valves) and water/methanol injection.
Altogether, the enhanced twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 generates 800 crank horsepower – and shoots flames out of its side exhaust in Sport + mode. Chesney also has a “drag unit” on his G. Even on a cold road, he was able to blast to 60 mph in 3.88 seconds. That’s a great time for any vehicle, especially one with the aerodynamics of a dam wall.
Chesney is not stopping there. Next up on his mod list is upgraded turbos and suspension components. We can only imagine how powerful his G can be once a company develops an E85 fuel system for it.
As a previous G-Class owner, Chesney knows how much of an improvement the newest generation is. He tells Xu his favorite part of his current G 63 is “the front independent suspension and … the ride quality.” That doesn’t mean Chesney sticks to smooth roads, though. “I actually use mine. I off-road it. I beat on it.”
Chesney’s love of his 2020 G 63 doesn’t diminish his affinity for past models. He plans on getting two older G-Wagens: a two-door that he’ll swap a newer AMG V8 into and a G65 that he’ll never get rid of. Even if Chesney does let it go for some reason, we have a feeling his love of the G-Wagen won’t let go of him.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
