-Difficult as it is to comprehend, some people believe the twin-turbocharged, V-12–powered Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG doesn’t have enough gristle.
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We know, right? I mean, BMW refuses to build a 7-series-based M7 because it doesn’t think such a car fits their brand, yet there so many customers looking for that sort of sedan that not only can they get one from AMG (two, if you include the twin-turbo V-8 S63), but they can get an even wilder one from Brabus. The German tuning and customization house has hit the Dubai Motor Show by matching heat with heat, delivering this Rocket 900 Desert Gold Edition, which promises to fit right in with its new flagship store in the Gulf emirate.
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Brabus claims the Rocket 900 Desert Gold will reach out a top speed on the naughty side of 217 mph, a feat enabled by coercing the Benz’s V-12 to deliver 888 horsepower and a John Deere-ish 1106 lb-ft of torque, although it has to be limited in practice to 885 lb-ft to prevent grenading the driveline. With that fusillade delivered exclusively to the rear wheels, we’re thinking achieving the quoted 0-to-62-mph time of 3.7 seconds will be a bit of a challenge, but the 9.1-second 0-to-120-mph time might be more easy to replicate.
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Mercedes’ in-house tuning shop, AMG, achieved its 621-hp and 738-lb-ft ratings for the S65 by taking the original V-12 and throwing everything out to start again. Brabus has done the same to AMG’s engine. There’s a custom crankshaft that enables a longer stroke, and the cylinders have been bored out, too, pushing the capacity up from 6.0-liters to 6.3 liters. Custom, matched forged pistons are installed, and the balanced connecting rods are machined from billets.
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The turbochargers are enlarged, with larger compressors and larger turbines, while the exhaust downpipes have swollen to more than three inches in diameter. There’s a new air intake, too, sucking oxygen through a new duct behind the grille; the air flows into a new filter box complete with reflective gold sheathing to reduce air temperature. There’ll be no high-pitched wail, though, with the V-12 delivering its full, 888-hp fury at just 5500 rpm and its torque peak at 4200 rpm. AMG’s venerable seven-speed automatic transmission has been volunteered into service here, in concert with a limited-slip differential.
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The Rocket 900 Desert Gold (the 900 refers to the car’s metric-horsepower rating) scores plenty of aerodynamic and interior tweaks, the former to keep the thing on the road at speed and the latter to remind you what you paid for when driving conditions are more limited than you might like. The signature quilted look you expect from Brabus is rendered with gold stitching, gold and black leather is applied throughout, what’s normally silver in a regular S-class is now gold—some 300 parts in all—and a “900” logo is embroidered on teh headrests.
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The whole package rides on massive, 21-inch forged wheels (with gold accents, naturally), and Continental, Pirelli, and Yokohama all have signed on as choices for the 255/35 front and 295/30 rubber. Finally, the air suspension can lower the ride height by up to 0.6 inch “without compromising its ride quality,” although we’re thinking if you’re looking to make this sort of statement, being completely comfortable behind the wheel is perhaps a lesser priority.
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