Car Mod Atrocities: Mercedes E-Class With Veloster Butt And Civic Face

Jul. 04, 2023 7:51 AM ET byJarryd Neves Offbeat /10 Comments

This is the most bizarre project car we've seen in quite some time.

We've seen our fair share ofwacky custom buildsin the past, but this Hyundai Veloster-like project out of Brazil is certainly a contender for the most bizarre yet. A fabrication workshop called Multi Rodas Campinas has embarked on a rather ambitious (and daunting) build called Projeto Fusao (Project Fusion), which combines the underpinnings of aMercedes E-Class与现代Veloster bodywork - oh, and the front fascia from aHonda Civic.

The vehicle is yet to be completed, but renderings show what the finished product will look like. To start, the shop found aW210-generation E-Classwith a V8 engine. Based on the videos seen below, it appears to be the "M113 43" 4.3-liter V8, which produces a not-too-shabby 275 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. That's slightly more than you'd get fromthe discontinued Velosterin N form.

projetofusao/Instagram

But it's not just the engine that Multi Rodas Campinas is using from the Mercedes. The entire project is based on W210 underpinnings. While some may wonder why the company is using such an outdated chassis, you'd be interested to know Dodge still uses the W210 platform for the current Charger andChallengermodels.

Of course, this poses several problems. The '90s E-Class has a 111.5-inch wheelbase, which is lengthier than the first-gen Veloster (104.3 inches). Shoehorning a large V8 into a space meant to look visually appealing for an inline-four is tricky. But the shop has simply elongated the bonnet and various front panels to get around the problem, giving the custom build a sporty-looking profile. It's not far off BMW'sConcept Touring Coupe- if you squint.

It would be interesting to see whether the Benz's multi-link rear suspension setup is retained. While sophisticated and comfortable, it can't be described as dynamic or sporty.

projetofusao/Instagram

And then we get to the styling. For the most part, it's a typical Veloster. The rear wheels are now housed under swollen arches, which look aggressive, and there's a large diffuser. Prominent air vents can be seen behind the front wheels, while the render shows us there are plans to fit a ground-hugging body kit and a rear wing.

For some reason, the team behind this build has decided to adorn the front end with the face of a tenth-generation Honda Civic. This includes the headlights, grille, and front bumper. For now, this mash-up project car wears black-painted six-spoke wheels, but this is probably temporary, as the rendering shows a far more attractive design.

Combining various elements from a Mercedes, Honda, and Hyundai into one project car is certainly unique. We can't wait to see what the car looks like once it's complete. If you want to see another interesting custom combo, check outthis Audi-powered Toyota MR2.