2022 Mercedes-Benz Brabus 800 widestar

1 year ago
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Overview
Operating on the long-established premise that too much power may be almost enough, Brabus has been adding serious urgency to Mercedes-Benz vehicles since 1977, and this gonzo G-class SUV is the latest.
The star of the German tuner’s stand at Geneva, the Brabus 800 looks to be capable of punching serious holes in the air, generating thunderclaps in its wake. With revised turbochargers, four liquid-to-air intercoolers, custom exhaust manifolds, free-flowing stainless-steel exhaust plumbing, and a reprogrammed ECU, Brabus claims 800 horsepower and 811 lb-ft of torque for the 800’s retuned 6.0-liter Mercedes-Benz twin-turbo V-12.

The exhaust system includes butterfly valves that allow the owner to choose between a mild basso beat or bellicose blast at the touch of a switch. The whooma setting is for the driver’s entertainment and to make sure he’s observed, in the unlikely event someone failed to notice this bad-boy wagon rumbling down the strasse. Brabus maintained the factory’s 155-mph governor, but claims a 0-to-62-mph potential of 4.2 seconds, which is pretty respectable for a three-ton SUV with the aerodynamics of a Waffle House.

Inside Brabus has installed a full-length center console that houses a refrigerator as well as a suite of Apple digitalia, including an iPod Touch, iPad Mini, Mac Mini, and an Apple TV, plus USB ports and charging docks and a 15.6-inch color LCD monitor that swings down from the headliner. The idea is total connectivity—any time, anywhere, at any speed. Interior furnishings include a stygian black color scheme softened by many yards of quilted black leather picked out with red stitching, plus a sound system conceived for playing Wagner. If there’s a vehicle better suited to “Ride of the Valkyries,” we have yet to see it.

If the styling of the standard G-class wagon can be considered brawny, the Brabus treatment comes across as Muscle Beach, thanks to the company’s Widestar body kit. In addition to a more menacing front fascia, the kit’s fender flares add 4.7 inches to the stock G-wagon’s width, and shelter a set of 23-inch forged-aluminum wheels.
Offered in three different finishes, the wheels wear 305/30 summer tires with a choice of three suppliers—Continental, Pirelli, or Yokohama. Handling enhancements include a set of Bilstein shocks with comfort and sport presets. The system will automatically switch to the sport setting when appropriate based on information from vehicle sensors monitoring speed, lateral g, and steering angle.

Brabus has yet to announce pricing for the 800 iBusiness with the Widestar body kit and tech upgrades, but half a million Euros would be a good ballpark estimate. However, at least some cosmetic elements—body kit parts and wheels—can be acquired separately.

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