Automotive

Brabus turns Mercedes S63 AMG into world's fastest four-seat cabriolet

Brabus turns Mercedes S63 AMG into world's fastest four-seat cabriolet
Brabus has cranked the power up on the Mercedes S63 AMG
Brabus has cranked the power up on the Mercedes S63 AMG
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Brabus badges are scattered everywhere in the cabin
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Brabus badges are scattered everywhere in the cabin
Special Brabus shift paddles control the gearbox
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Special Brabus shift paddles control the gearbox
The Brabus kickplates under the S-Class doors are another unique touch
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The Brabus kickplates under the S-Class doors are another unique touch
One of the ways Brabus is trying to keep the S-Class Cabrio on the ground
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One of the ways Brabus is trying to keep the S-Class Cabrio on the ground 
There is a quiet mode on the exhaust, but we'd keep it in the loudest mode possible. After all, these car's aren't about subtelty
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There is a quiet mode on the exhaust, but we'd keep it in the loudest mode possible. After all, these car's aren't about subtelty
Carbon fiber abounds on the S-Class exterior
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Carbon fiber abounds on the S-Class exterior
A carbon diffuser also helps keep the Brabus 850 on the ground at its top speed
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A carbon diffuser also helps keep the Brabus 850 on the ground at its top speed
Brabus has a pretty solid formula for making Mercedes' look faster
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Brabus has a pretty solid formula for making Mercedes' look faster
The Brabus S63 AMG is still a handsome car, even if it's a bit darker than the standard version
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The Brabus S63 AMG is still a handsome car, even if it's a bit darker than the standard version 
Brabus fits a 15-mm lower suspension
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Brabus fits a 15-mm lower suspension
Those thin tires might be grippy, but they still can't go any faster than 350 km/h
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Those thin tires might be grippy, but they still can't go any faster than 350 km/h
Hold onto your haircut, the drop top Brabus will hit 350 km/h
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Hold onto your haircut, the drop top Brabus will hit 350 km/h
The Brabus 850 6.0 has, as you may have gathered, 850 hp
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The Brabus 850 6.0 has, as you may have gathered, 850 hp
Brabus has cranked the power up on the Mercedes S63 AMG
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Brabus has cranked the power up on the Mercedes S63 AMG
21-inch wheels are standard on the Brabus
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21-inch wheels are standard on the Brabus
All-wheel drive means you shouldn't find it too difficult to deploy all that power
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All-wheel drive means you shouldn't find it too difficult to deploy all that power
The S63 will seat four, and keep them isolated from the elements - even when the roof is down
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The S63 will seat four, and keep them isolated from the elements - even when the roof is down
Gold has been used in the engine bay for cooling
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Gold has been used in the engine bay for cooling
Bigger turbo compressors and more displacement help draw extra power from the Brabus
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Bigger turbo compressors and more displacement help draw extra power from the Brabus
The Brabus 850 6.0 from the rear
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The Brabus 850 6.0 from the rear
Mercedes went hard on the S63, but Brabus has gone harder
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Mercedes went hard on the S63, but Brabus has gone harder
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As symbols of motoring excess go, few can come close to the Mercedes S63 AMG Cabriolet. It's a drop top, sure, but one engineered to keep you cocooned in a world free of buffeting, so you can enjoy the elements without ever being disturbed by them. And there's plenty of power, enough to rocket you to 100 km/h in less than 4 seconds.

Sometimes, factory-spec power and engineering isn't enough, though. Brabus is always willing to step into that void, in this case delivering the world's fastest four-seat convertible: the 850 6.0 Biturbo Cabrio.

The changes start under the hood, where engineers in Bottrop have boosted the S63's twin-turbo V8 from 5,461 cc to 5,912 cc with a forged crankshaft and longer stroke, an increased cylinder bore and forged pistons to match. The motor's cylinder heads have been re-machined to handle the extra grunt, too.

The Brabus S63 AMG is still a handsome car, even if it's a bit darker than the standard version
The Brabus S63 AMG is still a handsome car, even if it's a bit darker than the standard version 

Working in tandem with the extra displacement is a throughly reworked turbo system, using two new turbochargers with bigger compressors and modified exhaust manifolds. These are complemented by 75 mm (2.95 in) down pipes and a stainless-steel exhaust system, with butterfly valves to keep the car quiet in coming home mode, but still give it a throaty roar in full flight.

To make sure there's plenty of fresh air getting into the engine, there's a carbon fiber intake module and two new air filters, fed by a broad air intake integrated into the bonnet. You'll also notice there's gold heat shielding over the intake and charge-air pipes on the turbocharger, a touch that calls the legendary McLaren F1's engine bay to mind.

The net result of these sweeping changes is speed, and lots of it. Having dispatched the 100 km/h (62 mph) sprint in 3.5 seconds, the all-wheel drive Brabus will smash through 200 km/h (124 mph) in just 9.4 seconds. Top speed is 350 km/h (217 mph), although that figure isn't necessarily the car's ultimate maximum – it's limited to preserve the tires.

One of the ways Brabus is trying to keep the S-Class Cabrio on the ground
One of the ways Brabus is trying to keep the S-Class Cabrio on the ground 

At that sort of speed, you need some serious downforce to stop your luxury convertible becoming a 625 kW (850 hp) luxury airplane. Although small, Brabus says its carbon fiber chin extension and bootlid spoiler help keep you on the ground, as does the rear diffuser.

On the outside, it's business as usual for Brabus, which means lots of black paint and big wheels. In this case, the wheels are 21-inch forged alloys, 228 mm (9 inches) wide at the front and 267 mm (10.5 inches) wide at the rear. They're wrapped in the 255/35 front tires and 295/30 rear tires tasked with transmitting 1,150 Nm (848 lb.ft) to the road. The whole package sits 15 mm (0.59 in) lower than before, which might have a negative impact on the standard car's wafty ride quality, but does add to its tougher look.

Inside, there's plenty of aluminum and carbon fiber trim, while the speedo has been revised to run all the way to 400 km/h (248 mph). Thus far, there's no word on pricing, or on what taking the S63 Cabriolet to its 350 km/h v-max would do to your haircut.

Source: Brabus

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