This Military 6x6 Mercedes Has a 12.8-Liter Engine

The heavy-duty truck has been modified to haul tanks.

Photo by: Mercedes-Benz Trucks

By: Adrian Padeanu

Feb 4, 2025 at 6:52am ET

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We generally associate Mercedes with the luxury passenger car brand, but its expertise goes well beyond what BMW, Lexus, and Audi offer. The Daimler Truck division has a separate Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks business unit that is responsible for the defense sector. The go-anywhere Unimog is perhaps its most recognizable product, but the lineup includes several other heavy-duty trucks. This 6x6 behemoth is its newest creation.

Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks is attending the International Defence Exhibition & Conference (IDEX) in Abu Dhabi this month to show off the Arocs 4042 AS 6x6 equipped with twin rear tires. Developed for heavy-duty off-road transport, the three-axle mastodont can haul tanks and rescue broken-down vehicles using the double cable winch. As you can tell, it's absolutely massive, stretching 322.8 inches (8200 millimeters) long, 98.4 inches (2500 millimeters) wide, and standing 137.7 inches (3500 millimeters) tall.

Photo by: Mercedes-Benz Trucks

The wheelbase measures 165.3 inches (4200 millimeters), and Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks claims the Arocs offers a permissible gross weight of 40 metric tons: nine tons on the front axle and 16 tons for each of the two rear axles. The three-pointed star quotes a gross combination weight of 250 tons. The special version for IDEX has a roof hatch, a tire pressure control system, and blackout lights to reduce the risks of being detected by the enemy.

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At the heart of Mercedes' army colossus is an inline-six diesel engine (codenamed "OM 460") with an enormous 12.8-liter displacement. The engine produces 416 horsepower and works with a 12-speed Powershift 3 automatic transmission equipped with a manual mode. This six-cylinder diesel alone weighs about as much as a Mazda Miata, tipping the scales at 2,237 pounds (1,015 kilograms). It's not even the largest engine available for the Arocs lineup, as an even bigger 15.6-liter unit ("OM 473") pumps out 617 hp.

It's not the only 6x6 model from Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks heading to the show since there’s also going to be a Zetros 3351 AS 6x6 for transporting wheeled or tracked vehicles. The pair of three-axle trucks will share the spotlight with a Zetros 2036 A 4x4 built as a material and troop transporter.