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Kraftwagen König
The Mercedes E-Class might be technically brilliant, but it's also a sign of impending adulthood, a car so steady, reliable and safe that it won't let you take any chances. In a way, it is the dying of the light, a sign that you've reached that certain age.
The 2010 Brabus E V12 is an entirely different proposition. It comes with rage burning in its soul, a wild teen spirit that you'd never otherwise find in a Mercedes. And yet this combination of crazed aspiration from Brabus and impeccable engineering from Mercedes creates a completely singular automobile.
First seen at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show, the 2010 Brabus E V12 is a ground-up rebuild of a Mercedes-Benz E-Class. The basic shell, some interior bits and the basic engine pieces remain, but Brabus has filled it to the brim with high-tech parts to create a 788-horsepower sedan that will top 200 mph. Think of it as a Lamborghini Murciélago LP640, only with four doors. It costs some $715,000, so you can see why only 10 of them are to be built.
Why Ask Why?
As we plant the throttle pedal on the floor for the first time, the stability control light flickers into life and becomes our constant companion for the remainder of our drive. Induction roar from the engine fills the cabin and the whole car explodes down the road, carried along on a wave of stupendous power. We couldn't care less about the logic behind the creation of a car like this. There is simply nothing quite like a Brabus. To drive one is to embrace its sheer insanity.
Brabus has taken the E-Class' V8 and substituted a bored-out 6.2-liter Mercedes V12, then added a titanium crankshaft, new pistons, modified cylinder heads and sports camshafts. Then two turbochargers have been strapped on and plumbed to four intercoolers (yes, four of them). Monstrous air intakes are built into the hood to stop this nuclear power plant from going into meltdown when you hit the throttle pedal and also furnish a ram intake for deep breathing at high speed. In Brabus-speak, this engine is known as the SV12 R Biturbo, but you just need to know it's as powerful as all bejesus.
Brabus tells us that there should be no fears on the longevity front. This engine has been so meticulously engineered that it is compliant with Euro IV emissions regulations, will return 18 mpg with a relaxed right foot, and delivers CO2 emissions that are more than reasonable with this kind of power (whatever that means).
Even the Brabus tuners reckoned that this engine's full 1,047 pound-feet of torque would be too much for the Mercedes drivetrain components, so the twin-turbo V12's output has been trimmed to 811 lb-ft of torque. As it is, Brabus raided the bigger, beefier Maybach limousine for its five-speed automatic transmission to find something compatible with so much torque. Lean into the throttle pedal and the car pins you back in the seat.
Think Ahead
With more than double the torque of the Ferrari 458 Italia and almost double the Italian supercar's horsepower, the Brabus E V12 is brutally fast in a straight line. The 60-mph mark falls in just 3.5 seconds from a standstill, while the 200 km/h mark (125 mph) arrives in 9.9 seconds. A mind-boggling 300 km/h (186 mph) comes up in 23.9 seconds, a mark that the Lambo LP640 won't hit for another 6 seconds.
As for the top speed, it's limited to 217 mph for the sake of the Pirelli P Zero tires, 255/35ZR19s in front and 285/30ZR19s in the rear. The car apparently is capable of more than 230 mph. Such speed seems insane in this car, as it can be done in Mercedes-style air-conditioned comfort. The only sign that things aren't quite what they seem is the tendency for the spinning rear tires to fight for control of the car's destiny at lower speeds, plus the thundering noise from the engine room. And there's that thing with the world rushing past the windshield at fast-forward.
The Brabus Look
Brabus has become one of the largest tuning outfits in the world, and there's a certain pride that comes along with this, especially when you're building the world's fastest sedans.
Such pride explains the rather aggressive looks of the E V12. It comes with a complete kit of carbon-fiber pieces that is designed to both reduce drag and improve downforce. The low-slung front spoiler reduces lift and comes with upright LED running lights integrated into the fascia, a new trend in the tuning industry, as every kid and his Camry has the Audi-style horizontal LEDs these days. Brabus also puts its supercars into the wind tunnel to ensure they handle like a Mercedes should at speeds few of its owners will ever see. Evidence of aero tuning can be seen in touches like the little winglets on the front fenders.
The bodywork blisters over the front fenders contribute to a stance that's wider by 1.4 inches. It's also hard to ignore the "Speed Spats" covering the rear wheels, which make the E V12 look like some sort of futuristic railway car. They reduce the turbulence and make a huge difference during high-speed cornering, as does the sliver-thin rear wing with little devil's horns on either side. Of course, if you'd rather do without these bits, you can order the 750-hp version of the E V12, which has a slightly lower top speed.
Cornering Capability
There's a limited-slip rear differential to help the E V12 in the corners, together with a suspension that comes with full ride-height adjustment and 10 combinations of compression and rebound damping. This seems a little excessive for what is, on the outside at least, a luxury sedan, and it's doubtful many Brabus owners get their fingers dirty while tailoring the car's suspension setup to a track day at the Nürburgring. But then this suspension, the limited-slip diff, stiff antiroll bars and big wheels and tires must control 2 tons of automobile at speeds far beyond those originally envisioned by Mercedes.
Then a corner arrives in view and you learn that you cannot hide 2 tons of weight at an apex, although Brabus has made an almighty attempt. The car is actually capable of scary cornering speed, but it's way more fun to simply lean on the limited-slip diff with its 40 percent lockup calibration and smoke the rear tires all the way around the corner.
Epic six-piston calipers clamp down on steel brake rotors with crescent moons carved into their surface. You can still feel the weight of the car pushing against these monster discs, but somehow the speed comes off quickly. This really is a supercar in a Mercedes suit.
Three Decades of Indecency
Brabus has spent more than three decades making indecent monsters out of respectable Mercedes. Founder Bodo Buschmann has a handful of records for the world's fastest production sedans and the title of the world's largest independent tuner to show for his efforts. He also has a near unparalleled reputation and a stable of supercars that look like Stuttgart's finest, yet come with full street-legal certification, a Hollywood look and enough power to destroy a small moon.
In an increasingly sanitized, homogenized and government-controlled world, the 2010 Brabus E V12 is a rage against the dying of the light. It is over the top, nonsensical and just a little bit insane. It is also absolutely brilliant.
2010 Brabus E V12 Mercedes First Drive
