While automakers may be reeling in the wake of the current financial crisis, small tuning houses certainly don’t seem to be worried as they churn out some of the most exquisite and exclusive cars in the world. This latest model from Brabus wants to strike its claim to fame by being the most powerful off-roader in the world.
The Mercedes-Benz G Class, or the G-Wagen as it is more popularly known, is Germany’s answer to the American Hummer, a macho, yet spartan offroader. For some reason, there are people who think that the 507 PS of power and 700 Nm of torque from the top-of-the-range G55AMG’s supercharged 5.5-litre V8 engine is just not enough. And one such lot can be found at Brabus, a German company specializing in customizing cars that carry the three pointed star logo.
Brabus has ripped out the V8 engine and plonked in the 5.5-litre V12 biturbo engine from the Mercedes-Benz S600 super-saloon. The engine has been rebored to 6.3-litres, the turbochargers have been replaced with larger units and a new optimized intercooler along with a new high-performance free-flow exhaust system has been added.
Remachined cylinder heads fitted with special camshafts complete the list of changes to the engine. The result is an engine that produces 700 PS of power, and the torque… wait for it… a whopping 1,320 Nm! But to maintain the car’s drivability, Brabus has limited it to, what they consider to believe more palatable, 1100 Nm.
Being a Brabus means looking distinctive as well, and the G V12 S Biturbo does that really well. Running lights up front, LED-lit running boards and door-sills with an illuminated Brabus sign add a lot of flavour, but still manage to keep the car looking rather tasteful. On the inside, its soft handcrafted Mastik leather everywhere to give that sense of elegance. This monster 4×4 can be yours for a princely sum of 379,000 Euros, or about Rs. 2.4 crore!
