Jump LinksHow Does It Work?ProsCons2025 Brabus XLP 9002019 Hennessey Goliath 6x62008 Covini C6WHonorary Mention: Lexus LS ConceptSometimes, less is more doesn't apply. When you're making a pickup truck, you usually want the biggest, the baddest, and the most imposing sight on the road, and two extra wheels are sure to help with that. Mercedes took its G-Wagon SUV to new heights (and value) when it released the six-wheeled behemoth version, but what is 6x6, and how does it work? We've taken a deep dive into vehicles with six wheels in this article, right from pickup trucks to race cars. While it's sometimes hard to justify having an extra axle, some people might simply prefer the dominating look that it gives them when passing others or hitting tricky off-road terrain. What Is A 6x6 Car? Motor1In the simplest terms, a 6x6 vehicle means the car has six-wheel drive and an extra axle, usually at the back. This is usually done to help the vehicle carry extra weight or give it more grip when going through slippery terrain like mud or snow. Unlike four-wheel drive, which is popular on many consumer vehicles, 6WD is primarily reserved for military or heavy-duty applications. How Does It Work? It works very similarly to a 4WD system, where the propshaft goes to the first rear axles in a front-engined car, but then there is a power divider that can send power to the rearmost wheels at the same time. Many of these cars also feature portal axles, which raise the ground clearance of the car by positioning the axles higher up the wheel, like in the Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG 6x6. That car also has five differential locks to help get it out of difficult conditions. Where Did The Six-wheeled Car Trend Start? Dodge WC 52 G-502 T-214 WC 63 6x6 military truckIf you think of a place that requires power, capability and the ability to drive over rough long distances, the military is the answer. That's also where six-wheeled trucks started to show their might, namely with the United States Armed Forces G512, G514, and G526 during the Second World War. They were used as everything from people carriers to cargo haulers, with a modular design that helped with the speed of manufacturing.Many of these were not commissioned for road use, but some still appear on the used market and command quite a price. They were powered by a 14L six-cylinder that provides a massive 642 lb-ft of torque at just 900 rpm. That shows you just what these cars were for, and the four-speed non-synchronized gearbox has a very low first gear to help with hauling massive loads.The first modern commercial interpretation of a six-wheel car came in 1997 with the Dodge T-Rex concept. The car never made it into mass production, but the company had every intention of making it a reality, even letting journalists drive the car. The press liked it and spoke of its great engineering, so it's a shame that this V10 beast didn't grace the streets. Six-wheel Cars Have Been Racing (And Won!) F1 When we think of 1970s Formula One, we think odd innovations. Aerodynamic ability was generally quite new at that time, so racing teams were trying everything to get ahead of their rivals. For the 1976 season, though, British racing team Tyrrell went in a different direction to every other team and fitted two front axles in front of the driver, making the P34 the only six-wheeled racing car that we can think of.The general idea was to create a frontal area that had less drag, as two wheels had less height than a single wheel at the time. This meant the wheels could be hidden entirely by the front wing, thus making the airflow smoother onto the rear wing. Some members of the press thought it was only a proof of concept, but it raced in the 1976 season and even won the Swedish Grand Prix, marking it as one of the most incredible innovations of the time.The car continued into the 1977 season with light modifications, but the team went with a more conventional setup in 1978. Other teams had experimented with six-wheel setups mainly at the back, but this was the only car ever to race. The FIA later banned cars with four driven wheels from competing, so there may never be a car like this again. Six-wheel Drive: Pros And Cons Mercedes-AMG Pros Extra Grip: More contact with the road means you may be able to get out of rough terrain easier. Extra load capacity: Having two rear axles means the weight in the trunk or bed is split between four wheels instead of two, decreasing the stress on each wheel. This is mainly why cargo trucks have four wheels. The aesthetics: If you want to make yourself look tough, having a six-wheel setup might be up there with the right ideas. The person next to you in their Fiat 500e might simply feel like a spec when you're in the cabin of a six-wheel truck. Space: Theoretically, having a double set of wheels on the back (if they were smaller) could increase interior room in some cases...but more on that later. Cons Complexity: Having more wheels means more components that could go wrong, and that's the opposite of what you need when off-roading. Expensive to set up: The G63 AMG is expensive, but the 6x6 version is out of this world. While that's a factory product, even the tuned versions of normal trucks to accommodate six wheels can be mega expensive. Overcompensating?: Now there's a big debate on the internet about whether men who have six-wheeled trucks are actually tough or are just trying to look tough. We'll let you be the judge of that. Our Favorite 6x6 Cars 2025 Brabus XLP 900 2025 BRABUS XLP 800 6x6 G 63 (2)We know people like the G63, but we raise you this: the XLP 900 6x6 from legendary German tuning company Brabus. If you're going all out with the wheels, you might as well do the same with the powertrain, and the 900 horsepower that this engine produces is enough to get you moving swiftly. And it swiftly drinks gas, too: it achieves only 13 mpg combined, according to the company. If you have the money for this, though, there's no need to worry about how to power it.The company hasn't just thrown power at this vehicle and called it a day, though. There's a fully customized interior with high-quality materials and colors to your taste. Now, you might be seen as an environmental killer by simply liking this, but every purchase of the XLP plants 1500 trees. We're not sure how much that really helps when you drive something like this, but at least it's something... 2019 Hennessey Goliath 6x6 2019 Hennessey Goliath 6x6After the Mercedes/Brabus, this is maybe the most famous example of ostentatious trucking. Built by American tuner Hennessey on the platform of a 2019 Chevrolet Silverado - already a pretty big truck - the Goliath uses a 2.9L supercharger that feeds a 6.2L engine producing 705 all-American horses, and it doesn't really get more red, white, and blue than that. The price even includes the Silverado it's based on, so could we call this thing a "steal," and only 24 have been built.It follows on from the 6x6 Velociraptor that Hennessey is already known for. Massive tires, upgraded suspension, and scary proportions mean that you could drive this over whatever Mother Nature throws at you and more. Hennessey has also released an insane 1,000-hp Ford Raptor that also has six wheels, but it's this car and the original Velociraptor that really got the ball rolling for them. 2008 Covini C6W 2004 Covini C6W x2 Silver and Brown Front Angled ViewThis Italian supercar drew a lot of inspiration from the Tyrrell P34 we mentioned earlier and wanted to rake on the established brands through more contact patches at the front of the car. The naturally aspirated Audi V8 engine was put into a fiberglass and carbon fiber body to tip the scales at just over 2,500 lbs. Comparing on-paper figures, the engine and double wishbone suspension setup meant it could compete with the Ferrari and Lamborghini models of the time.With smaller wheels at the front, drivers have said it's surprisingly easy to drive and that the design means it's less susceptible to hydroplaning as the front two wheels clear the way for the second set. The Covini C6W project actually started in the mid-70s, but suitable low-profile tires couldn't be found, and the project was scrapped. Restarted in the mid-2000s, the six-wheeled Italian supercar didn't really gain the traction that Covini thought. We don't know how many were made or where they are now. Honorary Mention: Lexus LS Concept lexus-ls-concept-minivan-08At the 2025 Japan Mobility Show, Lexus showed off this six-wheeled wonder as part of its new LS lineup - the LS Concept, alongside the LS Coupe and highly-anticipated Lexus Sport Concept, might be the most futuristic Lexus yet. The double set of rear wheels at the back are smaller in diameter than those in the front, in order to reduce the size of the wheelwell and increase interior space. It's supposed to be a lounge on wheels, and having a roomy interior feeds into that idea. While we have our doubts that this is something that will come to fruition (at least not right now) it's certainly interesting to see how brilliant manufacturers can utilize the concept of six wheels to add to luxury, too. Sources: Brabus, Motor1, Hennessey
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