Tuesday 19th July 2005

Brabus hits 200mph+

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

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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.

[pdV6]

"multi-piece monoblock" wheels... Isn't that a contradiction?

Or am I missing something?

[mcflurry]

I see the guys at Bottrup have come up with another winner

[huge]

Talking of missing something..."electronically-limited top speed of 205 mph" !!!!! whats that all about.Is that to protect the engine from disintegrating at higher revs,tyre speed-rating or questionable aerodynamics above that speed ?
Wonder what it would do un-limited?

[tonyhetherington]

I seem to remember the EV12 being in a magazine perhaps 2 yrs ago, and it getting a higher speed than 205mph?
If I rememebr rightly, the limit was put on the (what I thought was higher) speed because they couldnt' find a tyre manufacture that would guarantee those speeds?

Or am I just making this whole thing up...?!

[dazren]

I would hazard a guess that the limiter is set due to the tyres, as has been the case with some of their previous models.

DAZ

[verysideways]

Daz is right.

The original EV12, some years ago now, was limited to 205mph because that's all Michelin (who custom made the tyres to suit Brabus specifications) would agree to on the safety front.

Bear in mind that they were suggesting this as a maximum for the car for sustained high speed use.

The reality is that the "old" EV12 would consume its 20 or so gallons at the rate of 3mpg at 205mph, so you'd cover a little over 3.5 miles a minute for 15 minutes before the reserve light came on...

VS

[Beefmeister]

Whats the deal with the Bentley Conti Flying Spur?

Autocar had one, 4-up with the aircon on at 208mph (GPS'd) in last week's mag. Surely this should take the title, not the Brabus?

[up-the-dubs]

A kinda related question to the story. They say it has a front bumper spoiler to help reduse lift on the front axle. How is this? It's always got me stumped how a plastic bumper extension can do this, or is it strengthened and supported from the back?

Always been curious about this.

Cheers, Brian.

[Neil_H]

What an insane car, if a little pointless on any road but the Autobahns.

up-the-dubs said:

A kinda related question to the story. They say it has a front bumper spoiler to help reduse lift on the front axle. How is this? It's always got me stumped how a plastic bumper extension can do this, or is it strengthened and supported from the back? Always been curious about this. Cheers, Brian.

All it does is reduce the amount of air getting underneath, forcing it up over the car or around the front, and so reducing the aerodynamic lift.

[off_again]

dazren said:

I would hazard a guess that the limiter is set due to the tyres, as has been the case with some of their previous models. DAZ

Yep. Its daft that the limiting factor for the top speed of cars like this is the tyres. Mind you its not suprising in reality - big fat tyres and quite a bit of weight means they will get VERY hot very quickly and I wouldnt like to run at that type of speed for long.....

In fact, some manufacturers under quote their top speeds for this reason. Either you fit tyres which are worth £4k or you fit ones which are a little smoother for £2K and drop your claimed top speed. However, it would be interesting to find out exactly what tyres are fitted and if they are speed rated to the top speed of the car..... just a thought...

Mind you - just how many buyers are there for a car like this? Its already been said on the M5 thread a bit ago, but yet again we have another 200+ MPH salloon car. Off the top of my head there are a handful (ok most via semi-official tuners). Exactly how many do they think they will sell? There aint a big market for £100k+ motors I would have thought.... I could be wrong of course.

[wab172uk]

At least it won't have a bl**dy AMG badge on the back. Don't know about anyone else, but I'm sick of Mercedes being in a constant power strugle with itself. Would much rather have a Brabus. Soo much cooler.

[Balmoral Green]

Beefmeister said:

Whats the deal with the Bentley Conti Flying Spur? Autocar had one, 4-up with the aircon on at 208mph (GPS'd) in last week's mag. Surely this should take the title, not the Brabus?

Yup, and that was standard, imagine a modded version

[errek72]

Ooh I'd like one of those.
With grey wheels, painted Munich-cab custard yellow, and with a '200 D' sign on the back.
Imagine the face of (enter name of supercar here) drivers at the traffic lights.

[dinkel]

All these horses . . .

Oh, there's even more . . .

Mercedes needs iconic roadpresence. I'm waiting for it.

[tonyhetherington]

ah ha, knew i wasn't imagining it...

www.fastsaloons.com/cardetails.php?carlist=((327))

211mph (or 212mph I think they rounded up from the KPH figure) from Autocar in December 2002!!!

[m.c]

they need twin turbos to get 640hp out of a V12?

[dinkel]

m.c said:

they need twin turbos to get 640hp out of a V12?

Let's wait for this black one then . . .

[andyf]

Firstly, about the Bentley - the 208mph achieved on the oval was approximated to be 202-203mph if on a straight road, so it wouldn't beat this.

Secondly ... can we option this engine for a Zonda please?

[thrush]

i thought it was the other way round, speed would be faster on a straight than high speed bowl because there is sno tire scrub

[xxplod]

Where on earth is it all going to end??