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Brabus G800 review: Modified V12 Mercedes G-Class driven
The Brabus G800 is an ultra-exclusive take on the V12-engined Mercedes G 65. Mat’s had a go in this outlandish 800hp monster, but is it any good to drive?
The Brabus G800 is an ultra-exclusive take on the V12-engined Mercedes G 65. Mat’s had a go in this outlandish 800hp monster, but is it any good to drive?
Specs
6.0-litre twin-turbocharged V12
Power: 800hp
Torque: 1100Nm
Top speed: 155mph
0-60mph: 4.2sec
Brabus G800 design
Are you a mafia boss? Or a Premier League football club owner? Maybe you’re a Russian oil oligarch. If you’ve answered yes to any of the above, then we’ve got the perfect car for you: the Brabus G800.
Quite the spectacle, isn’t it? As you might be able to guess it’s based on the old Mercedes-AMG G65: the heroically over-the-top, V12-powered take on the iconic G-Class off-roader. Brabus hasn’t just left it as is, though - oh no.
For starters, it has fitted what it calls the WIDESTAR widebody kit to this already enormous 4×4. In addition to a far more aggressive-looking front bumper and a hilariously unnecessary roof spoiler, this also adds larger wheel arch flares that increase the car’s overall width by 12cm and help make room for its massive 23-inch alloys.
Then there are the iconic side-exit exhausts to help you better hear the V12’s ferocious snarl, and mounted on the bonnet is a big carbon-fibre intake scoop. Don’t tell anyone this is fake, though. Smoked headlight covers contribute to the G800’s evil look, and some Toblerone-shaped bits of carbon fibre replaces the standard G-Class’ iconic bonnet-mounted indicator lamps.
The result is a car that looks, well, unique. It might not be quite to your tastes, but it’s hard to deny that it has some serious presence, no? Supposedly only 13 were made, and when the car was new it’d set you back about £600,000. That’s some impressive exclusivity right there…
Brabus G800 interior
Much like the exterior, the Brabus G800’s interior has also been treated to a fairly extensive makeover. Our car’s cabin had been covered from head to toe in plush, expensive-feeling tan leather and suede. It’s a strong look for sure, but we like it.
Being an older car, the infotainment system is completely outdated compared with the latest G-Class. But that’s not the end of the world - there’s still enough tech in here to keep you entertained.
In the back, there’s a 15-inch TV screen that folds up into the roof, and the centre console has a special holder for iPads and iPhones. There’s a fold-out tray in case you want to hook your laptop up to the screen and do some work, and a wi-fi hotspot means you can keep an eye on the progress of that hostile takeover. The uprated sound system is also immense.
Brabus G800 driving
The G800’s 6.0-litre V12 is undoubtedly the star of the show. Brabus has fitted it with custom-designed turbochargers and exhaust manifolds, while larger air filters and four water-to-air intercoolers have been added into the mix too. Along with a reprogrammed ECU, the result is 800hp and 1100Nm.
That makes this near three-tonne SUV a bit of a rocket-ship out on the road, but while it’s fast in a straight line it’s certainly not one for the corners. The steering is super slow and vague, and there’s just so much body roll. You’d do well to treat particularly twisty roads with a lot of caution.
Ride quality isn’t so good, either. Brabus fitted custom Bilstein dampers to help improve things on this front, but in reality, it’s a jiggly and unsettled beast - probably because beneath it all this is a hardcore off-roader at heart. And hardcore off-roaders are never great on the road, which isn’t ideal if you’re planning on doing a lot of cruising around the streets of Knightsbridge…
Brabus G800 verdict
Ultimately, the Brabus G800 is a massively flawed, completely unnecessary piece of extravagance. You might even go so far as to say it’s utterly tasteless. But as ridiculous as it is - and as shocking as it is to drive - it’s hard not to have a soft spot for this big old beast.
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