Brabus takes Maybach V12 to 6.3-litres, 850hp
The 6.3-litre Maybach First Class weighs 2.9 tonnes and outputs 1,033lb ft of torque. Talk about guilty pleasure
There was always a familiar argument when it came to the really, really powerful AMGs. Specifically that there was no need for the V12, because the V8 was damn near as fast, sounded more tuneful, placed less weight on the nose and cost less money. What days they were, choosing between a supercharged V8 AMG 55 and a turbocharged V12 AMG 65...
Logic doesn’t really come into any discussion of a 12-cylinder purchase, however, and it seldom matters in a Brabus context either. There really is nothing to rival the power and smoothness offered by a dozen combustion chambers. This is why it’s still possible to buy a Maybach with a 6.0-litre V12 - £217,200 for an S680 First Class, sir - and why Brabus is now offering to convert it into a 6.3-litre Maybach First Class. With 850hp. Because of course.
The twin-turbo V12 now benefits from a custom billet crank increasing the stroke to 90mm (the bore is now 83mm) and all the accompanying beefier bits required: new forged pistons and uprated conrods, that sort of thing. Naturally, the turbos are bigger, too, the intake optimised, and the ECU whipped into shape, meaning a ludicrous 1,033lb ft alongside 850hp. Typically Brabus upgrades have limited torque to protect the poor, innocent gearboxes, but seemingly the Maybach’s 9G-Tronic is strong enough for everything the embiggened V12 has to give. Officially Brabus reckons 4.1 seconds to 62mph, taking four tenths from the standard time - and staggering for a car that apparently weighs 2.9 tonnes - with a 155mph top speed. But those spending the best part of £500k on a 6.3-litre Maybach S-Class could surely have the limiter removed if so desired. And some state of national emergency declared.
Unsurprisingly, the familiar ‘Black and Bold’ Brabus approach characterises the Maybach’s look. Everything from the new exhaust tips to the front lip spoiler and air intake surrounds to 22-inch forged wheels are carbon or black (it wouldn’t really be a Brabus saloon in any other colour). This car also features a new air suspension module to ride 20mm lower ‘without impairing the superb ride quality’. Which will be useful at whatever the top speed actually is.
Inside, Brabus is especially proud of the 306 - count ‘em! - plastic parts like air vents and switches that now have a Shadow Chrome coating; note as well the ‘exceedingly accurate’ leather quilting. It’s very much ‘meet the new boss, same as the old boss’ for this Maybach, then. If you like a little too much of everything, this is going to work just fine. Dark Grey leather has been used here, but Brabus will upholster an 850 in any colour you like - just keep the outside black, obviously.
Prospective buyers can either order direct through Brabus, who will get hold of a Maybach and start with a new vehicle, or hand their car over for conversion. Not that a 6.3-litre conversion comes cheap, whichever way you do it. This demonstrator is for sale right now, for an asking price of - hope you’re sitting down - 549,020.78 euros, or £473,000. Still, a Brabus V12 ought to depreciate a bit less fiercely than a Maybach V12. And there probably won’t be many more chances left to buy one…
But would you be driven in one regularly, in the rear seat?
I don't think a stretch S-class makes a lot of sense for Brabus.
Personally I can’t see the value in a £half a million leviathan that looks not dissimilar to one of the tricked-up S models seen being driven around central London by idiots who are visiting for the summer (or is that Ferraris and Lambos..?)
They aren’t for me, but I do kind of get them.
) Would love one. Give it a better set of interior finishes (something that Maybach and Brabus could easily work out between themselves) and an airport taxi exterior and, were I a German plutocrat with 100+miles between home and office, I could completely see the point.
I'd like the engine tuning without the naff styling additions, and this trend for diamond quilting cannot go away soon enough, but otherwise it's the perfect family car.
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