When Mercedes revealed its pricey X-Class pickup, some of us thought an AMG version of it would be a better investment. It never came, though, which is a shame – because it could have been every bit as much fun as this tuned Toyota Hilux.
Quentin Boylan did not appreciate the OEM powertrain options and had his reservations about the reliability of Toyotas in scenarios of intense everyday use. In the end, he decided to try and shoehorn an AMG V8 under the hood of the truck, a famously powerful and reliable engine.
He assigned a MoTeC M150 ECU to it and managed to make it work with the stock gearbox – albeit not without an adapter. He had also intended to replace the headers, but proved unable to do so due to space constraints and decided to call it a day.
On the outside, the heart-transplanted Hilux can be readily identified by its AMG front brake calipers, replica wheels and lowered suspension. Peek inside the cabin, and you will see AMG-inspired seats and a new leather/artificial suede trim with red details throughout.
Warning: it may be difficult to hold back laughter while watching the video, which features an otherwise mundane-looking Hilux lap up the track like a champion, set against the unmistakable background tune of an AMG V8.