Spend Your Weekends in the Desert With the Brabus Crawler, a Dune Racer With G-Wagen Looks

It is unclear if the ad refers to a vehicle that can be picked up immediately after signing your name on the dotted line, and transferring the funds, or if it is for a build slot. Nonetheless, one thing is certain: you will need a tow truck to get it to and fro, as it’s not meant to be driven on public roads. Homologation aside, you will also need to be loaded in order to afford it, as it literally costs an arm and a leg, and a couple of organs.

Want to talk about the Benjamins? Well, here it is: €891,310. That’s how much you will have to blow on it, which equals to $884,250 at today’s (still crazy) exchange rates. As you can assume, you are looking at a brand-new vehicle, with only the delivery miles under its belt by the time you will take possession, ready to take you on an adventure through the desert, and/or, why not, on any other challenging terrain. To put it this way, the Crawler will likely take you to the end of the world and back, as long as you stay away from public roads.

Built on a high-strength steel tubular frame chassis, the Brabus Crawler features high-strength mounts for the portal axles, found at the front and rear. It has a carbon fiber body without doors, and hood, roof panel, fenders, side skirts, and side steps made of the same lightweight material. The wheel arch linings were made of carbon Kevlar, just like the underbody panels that also use aluminum. That carbon fiber roof attachment isn’t there for show-and-tell purposes, as it actually helps with the ventilation of the rear seats, and the two LED modules flanking it.

Double-wishbone suspension at the front, rigid axle at the rear, and adjustable shock absorbers are on deck too. The truck rides on 9.5x20-inch wheels, shod in heavy-duty tires. Stopping power is provided by the ventilated and perforated steel brake discs, and it also has ABS, and ESP. An intercom system can be found inside, with connection for up to four helmets. It also gets a 12-inch screen with topographic maps, satellite imagery, and other cool stuff, carbon racing seats, four-point seatbelts, leather/Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel, and anodized red trim.

As for the actual firepower, it gets a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 engine, which is likely the one made by Mercedes-AMG, with increased displacement. The total output and torque are rated at 887 hp (900 ps / 662 kW) and 922 lb-ft (1,250 Nm), albeit the latter number has been electronically limited to 774 lb-ft (1,050 Nm). Everything is transferred to the four-wheel drive via a nine-speed automatic gearbox, with optional paddle shifters mounted on the steering wheel. From naught to 62 mph (0-100 kph), it needs 3.4 seconds, and top speed has been electronically capped at 99 mph (160 kph).

Another thing that interested parties will have to keep in mind is the fact that production of the Brabus Crawler will be limited to 15 units. Five of them will be shipped this year, another five in 2023, and the remainder in 2024. Thus, the chances of encountering one off the beaten path are very slim. But would you spend that much money on it if you were in the market for such a model, or would you build your own, or perhaps modify an existing off-roader? Work that keyboard (or screen) in the comments area down below.