Brabus AMG GT S - Frankfurt 2015

Frankfurt tuning hall looks worth a visit as Brabus announces package of upgrades for AMG GT

By Dan Trent / Monday, 14 September 2015 / Loading comments

There's usually a polite snigger when Brabus 'refines' (in its words) Mercedes AMG products by, y'know, doubling the horsepower and/or cubic capacity. The second coming of the turbo engine has given the likes of Brabus new headroom for even more ludicrous power outputs too and if not 'easy' as such it's certainly not that difficult to announce some ludicrous four-figure power output for maximum clickbait.

But Brabus's take on the

AMG GT S

is actually quite refined. And, for now, modest too. 600hp is obviously a lot and 90hp more than the standard car, torque also increasing from 480lb ft to 553lb ft. What, you were expecting a '1' on the front of those figures?

It even looks relatively downplayed and, dare we say it, classy with Brabus's well-established package of upgrades inside and out actually working rather well with the GT's character. As it stands the power upgrade is simply a 'plug and play' PowerXtra B40 - 600 performance kit that can also do exciting things to the C63 which shares the same basic engine architecture as the GT. And sure enough there is a 600hp/590lb ft C63 S making its debut at Frankfurt too. We'll have a wagon, thanks. As it stands the kit remaps fuel and ignition, also 'moderately increasing the boost pressure' of the two inboard turbos.

Inevitably there's a new exhaust system, made of titanium and carbon fibre and apparently weighing 40 per cent less than the stock one. In a further sign of increased maturity this has a 'coming home' setting that's quieter than the standard car's base one while the louder setting is ... more so. Predictably the stats are improved and the GT is now a genuine 200mph car (OK, 201mph, up from 190mph) and does 0-62 in 3.6 seconds.

There's a load of carbon inside and out, 20-/21-inch Platinum Edition versions of Brabus's trademark Monoblock F wheel and the car sits about 15mm lower than standard too. Inevitably the customisation options are extensive but the overriding sense is that the upgrades are sympathetic to the car and the final result - in pictures at least - looks pretty damned good. We'll be sure to wander over and have a look in the metal.

And in case you're worried Brabus is going (relatively) a bit new age and hippy fear not - also on the stand are two variations on the mental G-Class theme (a 500hp version of the G500 Squared and a 850hp Widestar V8 based on the G63 AMG) and various other mega horsepower monsters.