Thursday 13th September 2012

Brabus Mercedes SL500

Mercedes is making ever-faster cars. What can Brabus do about it? What they've always done - add more power.

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You've got to feel a bit sorry for Brabus. Not so long ago, the Bottrop tunemeisters were a prime go-to option for insanely powerful versions of stock Mercedes models. If you felt your 367hp CLK 55 AMG was a bit limp, then Brabus could offer you a 6.1-litre alternative with 425hp. Problem solved.

But now that standard M-B cars like the E63 AMG are leaving the factory with 525hp, how much further can Brabus push the performance envelope without making undriveable cars? Fortunately, this potential dilemma hasn't stumped them for long, as this latest project based on the new R231 SL500 proves. As you'd expect, the Brabus SL comes with a raft of cosmetic and performance upgrades.

Aero/wheels package is pure Brabus

A full bodykit is available, comprising new bumpers, skirts and a rear spoiler, plus Brabus wheels. Subtle interior changes include new trims and illuminated sill plates. Brabus is also offering a mechanical limited-slip differential, along with a reprogrammed ABC (Active Body Control) system that drops the ride height by 25mm.

But Brabus has always been about big power, and the SL doesn't disappoint. Its 520 PowerXtra kit boosts the 4.7-litre twin-turbo V8 to 520hp and 604lb ft, increases of 85hp and 88lb ft over the standard SL500. Even so, that's still a chunk less power than the 565hp dished out by Mercedes' own Performance Pack-equipped flagship SL, the SL63 AMG.

Presumably, Brabus will work its magic on that in the near future, but with such well-resolved and powerful cars coming straight from the factory these days (Performance Pack-ed AMG cars now hit 186mph, so even Brabus's traditional high-speed bragging rights are under threat) we're hoping there's still going to be room for Brabus's brand of individuality in the high performance mix.

[richard300]

Well, they do have Jaguars, Land/Range Rovers and Jeep/Chrysler cars to hopefully try and keep the business ticking along http://www.startech.de/ and i also believe they have their fingers in the Yacht business with a Sunseeker tie up and Private Jets are something they dabble in to.

Edited by richard300 on Thursday 13th September 16:05

[M666 EVO]

So AMG is Merecedes in house tuner. And Brabus is an off site tuner.

So why would you take a tuned car to a tuners? Like the first sentence implies?

Quote: If you felt your 367hp CLK 55 AMG was a bit limp, then Brabus could offer you a 6.1-litre upgrade with 425hp. Problem solved.

Or have I read that wrong?

[richard300]

M666 EVO said:

So AMG is Merecedes in house tuner. And Brabus is an off site tuner.

So why would you take a tuned car to a tuners? Like the first sentence implies?

Quote: If you felt your 367hp CLK 55 AMG was a bit limp, then Brabus could offer you a 6.1-litre upgrade with 425hp. Problem solved.

Or have I read that wrong?

I Have a real 'thing' about this kind of practice also. I know it can be done, but it's odd to have a Brabus or Carlsson car that is also an AMG, Like having Schnitzer stuff on an Alpina! It is however ok to have an ABT (for example)RS Audi or a Hartge (for example) M-power BMW.

The other day i saw a car with Lorinser wheels and Brabus Badges.... WHY?

Edited by richard300 on Thursday 13th September 17:41

[0a]

Because AMG is a model or a trim nowadays.

[anything fast]

wheels and bodykit from halford?

[chrisironside]

anything fast said:

wheels and bodykit from halford?

Agree. Don't think that looks all that appealing.

[pSyCoSiS]

12 - 14 years ago Brabus made some stunning machinery - which seemed 'special'.

Like the Brabus R129 Roadster with a 7.3 Litre Engine:

http://www.autosalon-singen.de/Mercedes/mercedes-b...

Or the same engine in the W210 E Class:

http://bin3aiah.net/cars/tuners/b/brabus/Brabus-E-...

The W124 also had a V12 planted in there.

But my favourite - The W140 when Brabus has worked it's magic:

http://www.w140forum.de/attachment.php?attachmenti...

[George H]

pSyCoSiS said:

12 - 14 years ago Brabus made some stunning machinery - which seemed 'special'.

Like the Brabus R129 Roadster with a 7.3 Litre Engine:

http://www.autosalon-singen.de/Mercedes/mercedes-b...

Why would you have that over an R129 SL 73 AMG? It's the same engine but looks worse.

[pSyCoSiS]

George H said:

Why would you have that over an R129 SL 73 AMG? It's the same engine but looks worse.

Because I like it (and this admittedly rubbish example was the only one I could find before I went home!).

[pSyCoSiS]

Here's a (slightly) better photo

http://www.nast-sonderfahrzeuge.de/MB-Exotenforum/...

[George H]

pSyCoSiS said:

Here's a (slightly) better photo

http://www.nast-sonderfahrzeuge.de/MB-Exotenforum/...

I still think it looks a chavved up version of a stunning car.

[tinkertaylor]

pSyCoSiS said:

Here's a (slightly) better photo

http://www.nast-sonderfahrzeuge.de/MB-Exotenforum/...

rose tinted glasses..Brabus looked as st then as they do now..

[pSyCoSiS]

tinkertaylor said:

rose tinted glasses..Brabus looked as st then as they do now..

Each to their own.

Thing is - every other SL 'tries' to be an AMG.

The Brabus is just different.

Better than what they produce now IMO.

[richard300]

George H said:

pSyCoSiS said:

Here's a (slightly) better photo

http://www.nast-sonderfahrzeuge.de/MB-Exotenforum/...

I still think it looks a chavved up version of a stunning car.

That car pictured would have been built before the AMG SL73 as all AMG SL73's are facelift R129's.
A facelift AMG Kitted SL looks way more chav than the SL pictured, admittedly the 3-spoke/3-piece Brabus wheels are very 'period' but apart from the removal of the massive Mercedes badge from the grille and a small front valance its standard.

Plus the Brabus had more power and torque than the AMG and they made 85 SL73's making it common in comparison with the Brabus 7.3 SL.

Having said that, the SL73 donated its engine to the Pagani Zonda, so it wins!!

[Schermerhorn]

I remember the W210 based EV12 with the 7.3 V12 pumping out 582bhp back in 1998. God....that must have been awesome fun.

[Mafioso]

FFS can these PH journos stop using the word 'stock' in every fking article these days, PLEASE??

The proper way of saying it is 'standard'.

fk me sideways it really grinds my gears.

And the car looks st as well.

ARGH!

[aarondbs]

So I saw a Mercedes s class brabus cdi..a new one. No body addenda no special wheels...so what was it?

[Baryonyx]

George H said:

I still think it looks a chavved up version of a stunning car.

Agreed, it is a bit 'Euro Look' and lacks the verve of the real R129.

[PUA]

looks great! prefer this to the new model sl63 in terms of design.

I do wish people would stop mentioning electronically limited top speeds as part of performance analysis as they are meaningless! The 155mph limiter on most fast german cars thus shouldn't be used when comparing cars in terms of performance

[Cacatous]

A silver Brabus?