Brabus SV12 R: Tuned Mercedes-Benz S600 with 750HP Heads to Frankfurt

For Mercedes-Benz tuning specialist Brabus, there's no replacement for displacement... expect more displacement and a pair of turbos. And that's exactly what the German firm did to the facelifted Mercedes-Benz S600 that is now powered by a modified version of the 5.5-liter V12 engine with bigger turbos and an enlarged displacement of 6.3-liters producing 750HP at 5,500 rpm and an electronically limited peak torque of 1,100 Nm (811 lb-ft).

All that power is transferred to the rear wheels through a modified five-speed automatic transmission while buyers can also opt for a BRABUS locking differential.

Acceleration from standstill to 100 km/h (6mph) comes after 4.0 seconds, 200 km/h (124 mph) after only 11.9 seconds while the saloon's maximum speed is electronically limited to 340km/h or 211 mph.

The Brabus SV12R rides on 21-inch alloy wheels (available in various designs) wrapped in Pirelli or YOKOHAMA tires in size 265/30 ZR 21 up front and 295/30 ZR 21 on the rear axle.

The beefed up S600 also gets a high-performance brake system with 12-piston aluminum fixed calipers and 380 x 36-mm (15.0 x 1.42 inches) vented and cross-drilled discs at the front, and 355 x 28-mm (14.0 x 1.1 inches) discs and six-piston aluminum fixed calipers on the rear axle along with sportier suspension set-up.

Being a Brabus and all, the SV12 R receives a cosmetic upgrade with a new bodykit that includes a new front bumper with integrated LED lights, side skirts, a discreet boot lid spoiler, a new rear diffuser that also houses the quad tailpipes and side air vents.

Interior enhancements include a newly created BRABUS Yachting trim that blends maple and tropical Wenge wood and a full leather treatment in a combination of light-beige and dark-brown leather.

The Brabus SV12 R will make its world debut at next week's Frankfurt motorshow.

-->Read More...

Old Skool Tuning: 1983 Mercedes-Benz 560SE with 386HP by Inden Design

Always had a thing for the Mercedes-Benz W126 (1979-1991) with its simple, uncluttered and yet amazingly elegant and timeless styling - a feat never again repeated by the luxury sedan's S Class successors, anyone disagree? This particular example you see pictured above, is a 1983 model modified by Germany's Inden Design in 1991. Being the company's first ever Mercedes product, Inden Design thought that it would be a cool idea to photograph the car and share with us a piece of its history.

The completely blacked out 1983 W126 was upgraded with the 1986 facelift model's bumpers and side covers and the US-spec model's headlamps and tail lights while there's also a sport exhaust system with dual pipes. The lowered suspension and the widened fenders that house 18-inch alloy wheels shod in 255/35 R18 tyres up front and (overly) massive 315/30 R18 tyres at the back, offer the W126 an even more aggressive stance.

The W126's interior, which is completely covered in black Nappa leather, boasts a set of König sport seats up front and special wood trim.

The classic Merc is powered by a 6.0-liter V8 engine from the 560SE producing over 368 horsepower while stopping power comes courtesy of an upgraded 6-piston sports brake system with 352 x 32mm discs from AP Racing.

-->Read More...

2009 Mercedes-Benz S400 BlueHYBRID: First Production Car with Lithium-Ion Batteries

Mercedes-Benz has released further details on its first production model equipped with a hybrid drive system, the S400 BlueHYBRID that will go on sale in Europe in June 2009 with China and the USA following in August and September 2009 respectively. Based on the S350, the S400 BlueHYBRID combines a modified 279HP 3.5-liter V6 petrol engine and an electric motor generating 20 HP and a starting torque of 160 Nm or 118-lbs/ft that’s installed in the torque converter housing between the engine and the 7-speed automatic transmission. The result is a combined output of 299 HP and a combined maximum torque of 385 Nm or 283-lbs/ft. -Continued

Quite importantly (and unless someone beats the Germans to it), the S400 BlueHYBIRD will be the first series-production model to be equipped with a lithium-ion battery. The advantages over conventional nickel/metal hydride batteries include a higher energy density and better electrical efficiency, together with more compact dimensions and a lower weight.

What’s more important to consumers is that the battery pack is installed in the engine compartment, where it replaces the conventional starter battery. This means that the interior space and boot capacity of the S400 remain unchanged. Additionally, thanks to its compact dimensions and modular design, the additional weight of the overall hybrid system including the comprehensive safety systems is only 75 kg or 165 lbs.

As with most hybrids today, when the vehicle is braked the electric motor acts as a generator, and is able to recover braking energy which is then stored in lithium-ion battery pack and made available when required. The hybrid module also has a start/stop function, which switches the engine off when the vehicle is at a standstill- for example at traffic lights. When it's time to move on, the electric motor restarts the main power unit.

According to Merc’s official figures, the S400 BlueHYBRID accelerates from standstill to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 7.2 sec, and reaches an electronically governed top speed of 250 km/h or 155 mph. More importantly, the S 400 BlueHYBRID betters the average fuel consumption figure of the conventionally powered S350 by up to 2.2 lt /100 km, at 7.9 lt /100 km (29.8 MPG US) and CO2 emissions by 21 percent at 190 gr /km.

-->Read More...