Custom car tuners continue to push the envelope, and Brabus is no exception. The latest high performance supercar from the German company is the Rocket 900 "Desert Gold" Edition – a customized Mercedes S65 capable of producing 900 hp and a top speed of 217 mph (350 km/h ) that was unveiled at the Dubai International Motor Show this week.
Brabus had quite the power plant to start with considering the S65's 6.0L AMG V12 biturbo already kicked out 621 hp at 4800-5400 rpm. To increase the performance to the claimed 900 hp output, Brabus had to increase overall displacement to 6.3 liters. Getting there meant making several key revisions starting with a billet crankshaft to produce a longer stroke, reboring the cylinders, dropping in matching forged pistons, and incorporating precision-balanced custom billet connecting rods.
The two production turbos were replaced with turbochargers that have a larger compressor, bigger turbines, and modified exhaust manifolds. A stainless-steel Brabus high-performance exhaust system and a specially designed intake module that pulls air directly from the radiator grill round out the extensive modifications that allow this bad boy to hit numbers that also include a peak toque of 1,106 lb-ft (Nm).
All of that power is directed to the rear end via a seven-speed automatic transmission and a Brabus limited slip-differential with a claimed 40 percent locking rate. Aluminum paddle shifters provide a manual shift option.
Of course, power means speed and keeping that speed under control means some attention to ensuring the front and rear of the car stay planted on the road. Brabus addressed that by developing wind-tunnel tested front and rear carbon fiber spoiler lips optimized for aerodynamic efficiency.
In addition to the special "Desert Gold" paintwork, the exterior of this unique supercar is also characterized by additional black carbon fiber components. Other exterior parts that were originally chrome were painted black, and the Brabus Monoblock F Platinum Edition 21-inch wheels finish off the theme with gold pin striping.
The interior plays off the high performance aspects of the vehicle with some 300 parts, including switches and bezels, painted the same desert gold color used on the exterior. Breathable black and gold Mastik leather with gold-colored seams and piping provide the finishing touches.
To provide some sense of the power available behind the wheel, 0 to 60 mph (100km/h) takes 3.7 seconds and in 9.1 seconds, you'll hit 124 mph (200 km/h).
Earlier this year, the company unveiled a customized Mercedes SL63 at the Geneva International Motor Show that produced similar performance numbers.
Brabus isn't saying how much it costs to get into the special edition Brabus Rocket 900 Desert Gold edition, but a search of their website indicates a Brabus Rocket 900 without the desert gold theme can be had for around US$558,000 (€520,000). Do the math and it's clear that this car is meant for only a select few.
Check out this video to hear and see a Brabus Rocket 900 in action.
Source: Brabus
How many cup holders does it have?
My Mercedes doesn't have any - and it's a pain in the posterior!
And as for the fad for rubber band section tyres, clearly these things aren't designed for driving on real roads, some of our English roads have potholes that would challenge a T34. And they're superhighways compared to Malta!