JAWDROPPERS
Did you know? In 2006, the Brabus Rocket clocked in a record for street-legal sedans at 365.7kmph; it was priced at EUR348,000 (~RO190,845)
BLACK BRUISER Meet the Brabus 800 E V12 Cabriolet, the world’s most powerful and fastest four-seater cabrio
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irst the sedan, then the coupe and now the cabriolet. Brabus is hell bent of turning every Mercedes they can get their hands on into a certified machine of insanity. This is their latest creation – the Brabus 800 E V12 Cabriolet. Basically, it is an 800hp biturbo twelve-cylinder high-capacity monster fitted under the hood of a seriously modified open-top Mercedes E-Class. Like its brethren, the Brabus E V12 Cabriolet is a high-performance automobile of superlatives: it can reach a top speed of up to 370kmph (231mph) and is currently the world’s most powerful and fastest four-seater cabriolet. In building this supercar the Brabus engineers drew upon the know-how gained from building numerous E V12 sedans and coupes. Precision work was required to implant the biturbo engine and a reinforced five-speed
automatic transmission in the engine bay of the E-Class Cabriolet. This is the most powerful engine in the line-up and is based on the three-valve V12 engine of the current Mercedes S 600 model. The company’s engine-building shop re-engineers this engine in all aspects. A special crankshaft with longer stroke and larger pistons in conjunction with increased cylinder bore bumps displacement from standard 5.5 to 6.3 litres. Further modifications to the engine’s inner workings include cylinder heads optimised for mixture flow and sports camshafts. The engine peripherals are reworked just as extensively. You get two special exhaust manifolds with integrated larger turbochargers to ensure a more efficient turbo charging process. The biturbo system is rounded out with four water-to-air intercoolers which also make a crucial contribution to the exceptional power yield. The stainless-
steel high-performance exhaust system with four tailpipes was created specifically for the E-Class Cabriolet. The intake manifold was also completely redesigned and takes its place under the custom-built hood and its integrated carbon-fibre ram-air hood scoop. And for perfect interaction of all performanceincreasing measures, the electronic engine management system had to be remapped. It produces 800hp at 5,500rpm and peak torque of 1,420Nm, limited electronically in the car to 1,100Nm. The car is also fitted with a Brabus high-performance limited-slip differential with a locking rate of 40 per cent, and sprints from rest to 100kmph in just 3.7 seconds. After 9.9 seconds you will already be cruising at 200kmph. The 300kmph barrier shatters after just 23.9 seconds. Depending on the final-drive ratio the E V12 has a top speed of up to 370kmph. The special suspension components were custom-designed for the front and rear axle. They provide a much wider range of individual suspension settings. These components are joined by a coilover suspension calibrated to the higher engine weight. The suspension was developed together with Bilstein and
August 2011
features ten selectable settings for bound and rebound front and back. The ride height can also be adjusted by up to 35mm to suit each driver’s personal preferences. And to tame all the power, the car comes with massive 380x37mm vented and grooved steel brake discs and 12-piston aluminium fixed callipers on the front axle and 360x28mm discs with six-piston aluminium fixed callipers at the rear. And the 400kmph speedometer bears witness to the unique performance potential of this EUR478,000 (~RO265,000) open-top four-seater even while it is standing still.