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Brabus Really Went to Town (Again) With This 788-HP Mercedes-AMG GLS 63

It looks like these folks have been keeping busy as of late, and we’re hoping things will stay that way.
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Photo: Brabus
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The tuning industry is a place where fast rides become faster, and petrolheads’ wildest fantasies come true. Ever since cars took over as the primary means of transportation, people have been fiddling with their hardware to extract more performance, be it for racing purposes, or simply just for fun. As four-wheeled vehicles started getting increasingly complex, so did the graceful art of aftermarket wizardry.

Let’s fast-forward to the 21st Century, shall we? In today’s automotive realm, this segment encapsulates a plethora of enterprises that specialize in helping your car reach its true potential. On one side of the globe, you’ll find the Japanese gurus over at Mugen, while companies like Hennessey and Roush Performance go about their daily business halfway around the world on American soil.

However, the hotspot of aftermarket experts is, without a doubt, Germany. The European nation is packed full of reputed tuners with decades of experience behind them, such as ABT Sportsline, Hofele, and the notorious Mansory, to name a few. While ABT’s craftsmen are the undisputed kings of VW and Audi-based ventures, Brabus is who you should be calling when a factory-spec Merc just won’t do.

Brabus 800
Photo: Brabus
If you’ve been reading our previous articles on this firm, the name “Brabus 800” might sound familiar. Bottrop’s auto doctors already applied this treatment to the 2021 Mercedes-AMG E 63 S, resulting in a sinister creature with 788 untamed ponies (800 PS) on tap. Well, you ought to buckle up, because there’s a new player in town.

Ladies and gents, here’s what happens when a stock GLS 63 4Matic+ meets the Brabus crew. We’ll begin our analysis in the bodywork department, where the Germans installed an array of carbon fiber goodies to improve the aerodynamics. The front fascia received a pair of carbon inserts on the grille and refined air inlets and a custom splitter lip for additional downforce on the front axle.

Oh, and of course, the company’s unmistakable and in-your-face emblem can be seen replacing the Three-Pointed Star. At the other end, we spot a beefy diffuser complementing the adjustments found up front, while a set of carbon fiber fender flares rounds things out on the flanks. They arch over Brabus’s very own Monoblock “Platinum Edition” M rims, which boast a colossal diameter of 24 inches on both axles.

Brabus 800
Photo: Brabus
The forged hoops wear high-performance tires supplied by Continental, and they’re connected to the chassis via a reworked suspension setup. The same recipe used on the E 63 S was carried over to Stuttgart’s chunky SUV in terms of powertrain enhancements. As such, the 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 has been dialed to a staggering 800 PS (788 hp) and 737 pound-feet (1,000 Nm) of unforgiving twist, which is miles ahead of the GLS 63’s standard output figures (603 hp and 627 lb-ft of torque).

It exhales via a premium stainless-steel exhaust system with carbon-clad tailpipes. This module enables you to manipulate the car’s soundtrack via actively controlled valves operated at the touch of a button. A “Coming Home” mode will prevent you from disturbing your neighbors, but if you want your Merc to sound like Godzilla on steroids, the “Sport” mode will do the trick.

When you step inside the cabin, you will encounter fresh upholstery and exposed carbon fiber trimmings adorning the spacious interior. To wrap it all up, the firm added aluminum pedals and shift paddles, along with new floor mats and illuminated Brabus logos on the door sills. Finally, this whole shebang will cost you a hefty €308,968 ($376,953 at current exchange rates), so we’d encourage you to visit the tuner’s website right away if your wallet can handle it.
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About the author: Silvian Secara
Silvian Secara profile photo

A bit of an artist himself, Silvian sees two- and four-wheeled machines as a form of art, especially restomods and custom rides. Oh, and if you come across a cafe racer article on our website, it’s most likely his doing.
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