Some Russians took an old Nissan and built Darth Vader an insect-like off-roader

By Peter Braun March 4, 2014

Vladimir Putin may be trying reboot the Crimean War – the 19th century’s least fun war – but average Russians are still doing what they do best: being completely insane … but in a good way. That’s right; a group of average Joe-iviches designed and built Darth Vader’s Baja Bug.

The design started on 3D modeling software, but unlike so many home projects it didn’t fizzle out. Instead, according to English Russia, the creator and his friends stripped out a Nissan Maxima for parts and brought this mental truck dune buggy thing to life.

If you take a moment to look, you can see the Maxima cabin being devoured by the H.R. Geiger-like structure of steel tubing. But this is not your redneck cousin’s El Camino on an old truck frame. For a home-job, the blending here is pretty seamless.

I do hope that they upgraded the powerplant from the 200-or-so-horsepower V6 that came standard in the Maxima, because this beast looks a bit heavier than the 3,000 pound sedan. In fact, the suspension of this beast appears to be hanging on for dear life.

Still I can only hope that insane dash-cam videos are forthcoming, as this beast hits countryside and roads of Russia. Maybe we can even arrange a crazy Eastern European truck competition between this thing and the astounding Romanian Ghe-O Rescue. That sounds like much more fun than invading the Ukraine.

Topics

Photo Galleries

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Peter is a freelance contributor to Digital Trends and almost a lawyer. He has loved thinking, writing and talking about cars…

Cars

Mercedes-Benz EQG: range, price, release date, and more

Concept image of the larger electric G-Wagon

The G-Class is going electric. We already knew that Mercedes-Benz was working on an electric, small-size G-Wagon, but it looks like the company is also working on a larger G-Class SUV, in the form of the EQG. In fact, Mercedes has gone as far as to show off a concept version of the off-roader.

While there's much we don't know about what will become the production model of the EQG, Mercedes has also shared a lot about it. Curious about whether the Mercedes-Benz EQG could be the EV for you? Here's everything we know so far.
Design
Fear not -- the EQG will retain many of the design aspects of the G-Class that you already know and love but with a modern face-lift. The EQG will keep the boxy design that gives the G-Class a classic look but with some additional modern styling, at least if the concept version is anything to go by.

Cars

Rivian R2 vs. Kia EV9: battle of affordable electric SUVs

Kia EV9 GT-Line Three Quarters

The long-awaited Rivian R2 has finally been announced, and it's an excellent option for those who want an electric SUV that doesn't completely break the bank. Sure, the R2 isn't cheap -- but it's a whole lot cheaper than most other EVs out there, especially when it comes to SUVs. But Rivian isn't the only company trying to tackle the problem of the budget electric SUV. The Kia EV9 is finally available, and it too offers a modern design and a range of helpful features.

Given the fact that the Rivian R2 and Kia EV9 are two electric SUVs in a similar price range, you might be wondering which is better for your needs. That's why we put the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 head-to-head.
Design
Both the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 are actual SUVs -- not crossovers pretending to be SUVs, like plenty of other EVs out there. The two vehicles offer big, boxy designs and plenty of interior space, making them excellent options for families or those who need that extra storage.

Cars

Rivian R2 vs R1S: How will Rivian’s cheaper SUV compare?

The front three-quarter view of a 2022 Rivian against a rocky backdrop.

Rivian has finally unveiled the R2, its long-awaited attempt at a more affordable electric SUV. The new vehicle may not be available just yet, but fans of Rivian's design aesthetics and feature set are already looking forward to being able to order the new car. The R2 is targeted at being a more affordable take on the electric SUV and will sit alongside the flagship-tier R1S.

Let's get this out of the way right now: The R1S is most likely going to be a better vehicle than the R2. Rivian isn't replacing the R1S with the R2 — it's releasing the R2 as a more affordable alternative, and there will be some compromises when buying the R2 over the R1S.