All show and no extra go - yet - for tuned SLS at Essen
Standard Mercedes SLS too subtle for you? Fear not, Brabus is on the case with its new Widestar package of styling 'upgrades'. Described as a 'custom tailored suit for the Mercedes SLS AMG', the kit was unveiled at the Essen Motor Show, which opened this weekend.
A package of carbon fibre arch extensions and trim details certainly adds some aggression to the SLS's looks, while the rear track is increased by 20mm and the ride height dropped by 30mm via two-mode adjustable Bilstein dampers. Depending on your taste (or lack of it) the carbon fibre additions can be colour matched to the paintwork as shown or left in matt or gloss finished bare carbon.
Finishing touches include carbon fibre side vents with illuminated Brabus logos that light up when you blip the key fob. Forged wheels, 20-inch front and 21-inch rear, look fabulous and are 12 percent lighter than the standard items.
So much for the bling - surely there must be some sort of 700hp engine conversion?
Er, no. At least, not yet. The titanium exhaust adds 10ps to the standard 563hp -and saves 10kg - but as it stands the SLS's 6.2-litre V8 remains unmolested.
A spokesman told us "look out at Geneva" and an accompanying press release boasts the new 250mph speedo 'hints at the car's future performance with Brabus tuning', so we reckon it's a case of 'watching this space'.
That's the first SLS that I have seen that I think looks absolutely fantastic. To date, I've been less than impressed with the rather plain SLS styling, apart from the doors, however the "M3 CSL style" wheels, and few modern (rather than retro) trim pieces lift the styling a million percent IMO.
I hate the concept of mixing the products from different 'tuning houses' an AMG car with brabus parts on it..... Its like buying an Alpina and putting a Hartge bodykit, wheels and badges on it, Just turns the car into a missfit.
must be a very very rich chav cos that baby is not cheap! personaly i thinks its the best lookin merc i have seen in a very long time... but for that kind of money it bloody needs to be!
I was driving behind a Brabus CLS a few weeks ago. It was fairly standard looking but had the widest rear tyres and biggest brakes I can ever remember seeing.
When I got home I visited the Brabus site and was dismayed to see that they offer styling packs. Also Brabus badges are a bit like //M badges with the amount I see on A150s etc.
The CLS based rocket had 12 piston ceramics all round. Possibly the largest set of brakes ever fitted to anything north of a freight train.
