E-Class Sedan

Segment
Sedan

Ripping off name-brand clothing is a global phenomenon, and so is pirating famous brands of women's perfume. These days it would seem that the automotive world is also suffering from a bad case of fakes. We've seen little-known brands from China try to copy the Rolls-Royce Cullinan, and we've witnessed what happens when Russians try to copy a Rolls-Royce to- they never manage to hit the nail on the head. But what if you use a close sibling of the copied car as a foundation? This $1,100 kit from Carbest in China will transform your Mercedes-Benz E-Class into a decent-looking Mercedes-Maybach S, and the best part is that you might just get away with it.

The Mercedes-Maybach S is one of the most luxurious cars around, with prices starting in the $180,000 range. Based on the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, this luxurious land-yacht combines effortless performance with stunning grace and refinement, and includes features such as massage chairs, a champagne fridge, and of course, a 6.0-liter twin-turbo V12 engine producing 621 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque. For those who can't afford this mega machine, one simply needs to buy a W213 2016-2018 Mercedes Benz E-Class and splash out on a Maybach body kit from Alibaba for an extra grand. This kit is constructed from durable PP/ABS plastic and includes a complete front and rear bumper replacement kit, a new grille with headlight surrounds, trim pieces, and all the necessary clips and fasteners.

The reason this kit works so well is the fact that the W213 E-Class already looks so similar to the Maybach of that same time period (W222 S Class), from the front and rear to the swooping side profile. The body kit doesn't actually change much, but the end result is impressive. Unfortunately, the kit does not include the trademark Maybach multi-spoke wheels one requires to truly pull off this look. A few pics of this kit taken in India show just how well it works, and the fact that the Indian and Chinese markets have access to long-wheelbase versions of the E-Class which are around 5.5-inches longer than the regular car makes it even more believable. All the kit needs now is a set of champagne flutes for the center console storage bin, and a dude in the back massaging you through those lowly E-Class seats.