Tuned: Brabus Rocket 900
We often wonder if the Brabus office has a coffee machine, or a cocktail shaker, or if the office boy is really a bartender. We think this because we’re pretty certain this Rocket 900 “One Of Ten” is the result of the consumption of some copious amounts of intoxicants. Based on the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S 4Matic+ 4 Door Coupe, the more aptly named Rocket 900 is one of just 10 in the world. It has the numbers to take the fight to supercars and the looks to send your neighbour’s kids running home.
Like all other Brabus cars, the Rocket 900 isn’t subtle. Almost every surface has either a proud Brabus badge or Rocket lettering. Not that we are complaining — a car this fast, this ludicrously fast, should look the part too. The exterior modifications start with the Brabus widebody kit with massively flared fenders that add 78mm to the width of the Rocket 900 at the rear. This helps the car have a wider stance and allows it to sit a little lower for better dynamics. It also gets an aggressive front bumper, with a reshaped front splitter to reduce lift at the front axle and much wider openings which feed the engine and front brakes. Talking of gaping holes, the grille now features two large openings on either end which are part of the ram air intake system. The reworked front-end is an important factor in the performance of the Rocket 900 and it has been designed in the wind tunnel to work well with the flared fenders. Of course, inside those massive arches there are also massive tyres — 295/30 ZR 21 at the front and 335/25 ZR 22 at the back with an exposed carbonfibre aero cover that looks oh-so-cool.
Talking of carbonfibre, if you open the hood you’ll notice that the plastic Mercedes-AMG engine cover has been swapped for a full carbonfibre cover, tinted in red, with Brabus and Rocket 900 badges on it, of course. Brabus has also reworked the suspension — now called Brabus Airmatic Sport — which lowers the car’s ride height by 25mm compared to stock in both Comfort and Sport driving modes. Last but not the least is the massive wing attached at the back, as well as the aggressive diffuser, both of which help improve downforce and aid high- speed stability.
Under the hood is the Brabus Rocket 900 Biturbo V8 engine, based on Mercedes’ four-litre twin-turbo V8. It gets increased displacement, now measuring 4.5 litres, a ‘precision balanced’ billet crankshaft, billet piston rods and larger forged pistons. The stroke has been increased to 100mm and the bore has been increased to 84mm. It also gets new turbochargers, with a larger compression unit and a reinforced axial bearing. The boost pressure has also been increased, now at 20.3psi. In addition to this, there’s a ram air intake system to keep the engine breathing well and high-pressure fuel pumps to cope with the additional demand. Brabus has added a full-length stainless-steel exhaust system, with reduced back pressure and adjustable flaps which enable a special ‘Coming Home’ mode to make it extra quiet.
We're not too sure how quiet a fire-breathing V8 can be but it’s the thought that counts, right? The ECU has been recalibrated to support the modifications, with new mapping for the ignition, injection and boost pressure. The result is a peak output of 888bhp and 1050Nm of torque. The engine actually produces 1250Nm of torque, but it has been limited to 1050Nm to protect the drivetrain and to make sure your tyres last longer than a trip to the supermarket. Peak power comes on at 6200rpm, while the tsunami of peak torque hits at just 2900rpm. This gargantuan power is sent to all four wheels (thankfully) via Mercedes’ 4Matic+ system and the nine-speed Speedshift MCT. The other benefit of having the 4Matic+ system is that, if you’re feeling particularly lucky, you still have the option to go into Drift Mode and send all 888 rampaging horses exclusively to the rear wheels. You would probably need a tyre sponsor very soon though.
Now the result of all that power is some blistering performance figures. Keep in mind that this is a four-door, luxury car that weighs over 2 tonnes — 2120kg to be precise. From a standstill, 100kmph comes up in just 2.8 seconds — eight-tenths faster than an AMG GT R and identical to the bonkers McLaren 765LT. The most impressive figure however is the 0-200kmph sprint which takes just 9.7 seconds, and you can hit 300kmph from a standstill in just 23.9 seconds. Keep the throttle pinned and you’ll probably need to visit a cardiologist, but you’ll end up hitting the limited 330kmph top speed on the way there. Again, the top speed is restricted to preserve the tyres since this is a very heavy car.
That’s not all though, because Brabus has gone to town with the interior of the Rocket 900, called the ‘Masterpiece’. Of course, the owner can customise it to his liking, but I particularly like this combination of black Alcantara, black leather and the red accents all over. In total, there are 215 individual parts in this interior, including switches and bezels, which can be coated in any colour the customer desires.
Interested in buying the Rocket 900? Well I hate to break it to you but if you’re reading this it’s too late. Like I mentioned earlier, Brabus is only making 10 of these for the entire planet, probably to equalise the tyre industries’ demand and supply. However, if you happen to own a Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S 4Matic+ 4 Door Coupe you could take it to Racetech for some other tasty Brabus upgrades.
