The 6 Craziest Brabus Engine Swaps

Unlike some aftermarket tuning companies – looking at you, Mansory – Brabus doesn’t overindulge in carbon-fiber gimmicks and eye-brow-raising styling choices, even at the risk of being a bit boring on occasion. Instead, the German tuning company adds its flair atop OEM styling but goes to town on powertrains and everything else beneath a car’s surface, turning up the wick to 11 on everything from the C63 to the G-Class – and almost everything in between.

It’s common to see power outputs bordering on 1,000 hp or more for vehicles wearing the iconic “B” badge, whether it’s a road-going car or a 900-hp Brabus boat. That said, sometimes those insane power outputs are the result of equally insane engine swaps. These are the craziest engine swaps Brabus has ever done.

6

Brabus M V12

W163 ML-Class

Brabus has a storied history of setting world records. At one point, the German aftermarket tuning company produced a version of the Mercedes-Benz ML-Class SUV that would become the world’s fastest SUV. Similarly to ludicrous power outputs, Brabus is known for producing models with equally ludicrous top speeds. However, while Brabus usually dabbles with German sedans, at the end of the 20th century, Brabus reimagined the ML.

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In place of a V8 engine, Brabus introduced the original W163 Mercedes-Benz ML-Class SUV to a twin-turbocharged V12 engine that was heavily modified, too. The potent twelve-cylinder unit featured a new crankshaft and forged pistons, to name a few of the changes made to it. A top-speed run of 162 mph allowed the Brabus M V12 to secure the title as the fastest SUV in the world, which was right around the genesis of the Sports Utility Vehicle. Still, its more modern 800-hp descendant would beat its predecessor in nearly every way.

5

Brabus E V12

W210 E-Class

To those familiar with Brabus’ earlier work, the E V12 moniker should ring a bell. However, for the uninitiated, the Brabus E V12 – at least the one we’re talking about – is the second member in a line of heavily modified Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedans that started with a W140 S-Class V12 plonked into a W124. This potent lineup of E-Class sedans has been the source of many world-record titles for Brabus, consistently achieving the “world’s fastest sedan” award with each generation of the E V12, with the first reaching 206 mph to secure its title, which was faster than the Lamborghini Diablo.

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This pioneer of the E V12 series was based on the W210-generation Mercedes-Benz E-Class, which featured a V8 engine beneath its hood, which would be replaced by a significantly more powerful V12 engine from the Mercedes-Benz SL. However, the SL’s original engine was bored and stroked to achieve a displacement of 7.3 liters and supplemented with twin turbochargers.

4

Brabus Rocket

C219 CLS

In the early 2000s, Mercedes-Benz introduced the world’s first four-door coupe, the Mercedes-Benz CLS. The first-generation C219 CLS featured an array of models, the most notable iteration in this context being the Mercedes-Benz CLS 55 AMG. This derivative of the first-generation CLS would serve as the basis for the world’s fastest four-door coupe.

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Brabus’ golden touch included a specially developed suspension setup, a heavily upgraded braking system, a slew of visual enhancements, and, most notably, a 6.3-liter twin-turbocharged V12 engine. The V12 engine came from the SL model and was improved by increasing its capacity and adding several engine components, the most notable additions being custom-developed turbochargers alongside more efficient intercoolers and a stainless-steel exhaust system.

3

Brabus Bullit

W204 C-Class

Mercedes-AMG struck gold with its Mercedes-AMG C63, that is, before the German automaker replaced its V8 with a four-cylinder engine – a decision that has cost Mercedes-AMG customers. In the late 2000s, Brabus got its hands on the Mercedes-AMG C63. Although the 6.2-liter naturally aspirated V8 was more than enough for most customers, the German aftermarket tuning company decided it wasn’t. In place of the V8, a twin-turbocharged 6.2L V12 would be employed as the Brabus Bullit’s source of tarmac-punishing power.

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The Bullit’s performance capabilities were visually cued by a redesigned carbon-fiber spoiler and front bumper, an aluminum hood, and a new rear apron. Paired with the aggressive design was a V12 engine, which was designed entirely in-house and benefited from several new pieces of hardware like specially designed camshafts, a revised cylinder head, a new turbocharger system, new intercoolers, and new engine electronics. A top speed of more than 224 mph was the performance metric that separated it from the rest of the models in the Brabus catalog.

2

Brabus E V12

W212 E-Class

We’ve covered the W210 E V12; this is the member of the E V12 family that was the pallbearer of the E V12 moniker and, as is the case with many swansongs, the best of the bunch. Following the same formula as its predecessor, which we talked about earlier, this rendition of the Brabus E V12 was based on the Mercedes-AMG E-Class, and instead of the V8 engine that was offered in the standard E-Class, Brabus employed a 6.3-liter V12 engine borrowed from the Mercedes-Benz SL 600.

However, the V12 engine was originally a 5.5-liter V12 but was bored and stroked to 6.3 liters. This increase in displacement necessitated a slew of new engine internals, which included a specially designed crankshaft with a longer stroke, precision-balanced pistons and piston rods, special camshafts, revised cylinder heads, and a turbocharger system that was designed specifically for the Brabus E V12. It also featured a new suspension setup, new aerodynamic elements, and new engine electronics. This resulted in a car that was still the fastest sedan ever created, even 15 years after its debut. It also featured new bodywork, one of the most notable elements being the rear wheel cowlings introduced to improve stability at high speeds.

1

Brabus G V12 900

Second-generation W463 G-Class

Although a V12 engine was offered in the Mercedes-AMG G-Class, like in derivatives like the Mercedes-AMG G65, the German automaker eventually dropped the twelve-cylinder unit, leaving the V8 engine to power the highest-ranking members of the G-Class range, which the German aftermarket tuning company would adopt in more recent renditions of the Brabus G-Wagens like the 900 hp Brabus P 900 Rocket Edition One of Ten. However, Brabus, either trying to capitalize on the recent decommissioning of the V12 or simply to give the V12-powered G-Class a final hurrah, introduced the Brabus G V12 900.

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It was out with the V8 engine and in with a 6.3-liter twin-turbocharged V12 engine, which commanded the highest power output of any model included in this list. Only ten examples of the V12-powered G-class were created, each capable of reaching 60 mph in 3.8 seconds from a standstill, nearly a second quicker than the Mercedes-AMG G63. Bodywork was also heavily revised compared to the model it was based on. Some of these changes included a wider body kit that added four inches to its track width. Supporting its hulking frame were upgraded suspension and exhaust systems. The interior was also upgraded, featuring more Alcantara and bespoke leather. Each example of the Brabus G V12 900 had a $670,000 price tag, with the first delivery recorded in 2020, enough to buy a new Lamborghini Revuelto and enough to splurge on a nice suit to match.

Sources: Brabus, NetCarShow, Supercars.net