Brabus hits 200mph+

World's fastest saloon with 640bhp twin-turbo V12

By PH Staff / Tuesday, 19 July 2005 / Loading comments

A Mercedes E-Class equipped with a Brabus-tweaked V12 has entered the Guinness Book of Records as the world's fastest saloon, with an electronically limited top speed of 205 mph. The E V12 saloon is based on the current Mercedes W 211 E-Class series, and is powered by a Brabus SV 12, whose displacement has been increased from 5.5 to 6.3 litres, retaining the bi-turbo setup.

Brabus' tweaks include installation of a new, single-piece longer-stroke milled crankshaft, precision-balanced piston rods and larger bore pistons. The assembly delivers a huge 640bhp at 5,100rpm and a stump-pulling peak torque of 757lb-ft. from just 1,750 rpm.

In addition to its top speed, the car shoots to 60mph from rest in 4.5 seconds. It sports 19-inch multi-piece Brabus Monoblock VI light-alloy wheels shod with Pirellis: 255/35 ZR 19 front, 285/30 ZR 19 rear.

Brabus also equipped the new E V12 Biturbo with a special high-performance brake system based on the electro-hydraulic SBC brake system of the E-Class. It consists of 14.8-inch ceramic discs with 12-piston aluminium calipers on the front axle and six-piston calipers on 14-inch vented and perforated steel discs in the rear.

Body kit helped with the aero too, with Brabus conducting wind tunnel testing. The result was a front bumper with integrated spoiler to reduce lift on the front axle, optimising directional stability at high speeds. Its aerodynamic counterpart in the rear is the boot spoiler lip.