Beyond a certain point of wealth logic need not play a part in your car buying decisions. A 900hp Mercedes-Maybach S-Class for instance. Who needs that? Nobody. But if you could afford it without a moment's consideration beyond 'that sounds amusing' you probably would.
Thankfully Brabus is there to cater to such whims. And has announced the suitably modest sounding Rocket 900 6.3 V12, a car it describes as "a luxury liner". Beyond a five-metre plus length and 2.8-tonne weight that makes good on that description you want some more stats don't you.
In a pleasing combination of old- and new-school tuning Brabus bores and strokes the standard twin-turbo V12 from 6.0 to 6.3 litres (nice nod to the 300SEL 6.3 and 600 Pullman there, Merc geeks will note) with a new billet crankshaft, con-rods and pistons. It then fits bigger turbos attached to the engine with new manifolds and exhausting through 80mm downpipes into sports cats. There's a new carbon fibre intake module, higher volume air filters and - for suitable engine bay bling - gold plated reflective sheathing to keep the temperatures down. The exhaust system features a butterfly valve meaning, Brabus says, "drivers can choose between operating their luxury sedan in a subtle and quiet 'Coming Home' mode and enjoying
a markedly powerful engine sound in the 'Sport' position." Stimmt.
All of this results in the headline 900hp figure, torque coming in at 1,106lb ft and the top speed "in excess of" 217mph. In a limo.
The look, given the performance, is relatively restrained on the outside at least. Because there's nothing subtle about the quilted cookies'n'cream hide interior. A Brabus reprogramming of the Magic Ride Control suspension drops the car by 25mm and there's a choice of 21-inch Brabus Monoblock VI Evo or Monoblock R Platinum Edition wheels. New bumpers front and back offer a more assertive look and also claim aero tuning and additional cooling for engine and brakes.
Back to that interior. As you'd expect the choice of leathers, Alcantaras and accompanying wood or carbon inlays is pretty much limitless according to your taste - or lack of it - and the already generous stock of gadgets and gizmos has been further updated with the Brabus iBusiness package. Happy days if you're an Apple user, this pairing the car to your devices for the ultimate package of communications and entertainment.
As if 900hp wasn't already entertaining enough.