The Brabus Invicto Program: Transforming G-Wagens Into Invincible Fortresses on Wheels

The German tuner Brabus contributed further to expanding Gelandewagen's public allure by conceiving several projects that base on this formidable chassis, such as the all-mighty 800 Adventure XLP, the stunning V12 G-Wagen commission, or the supercar-slaying 900 Rocket model. All of these are master automotive engineering exercises that leverage in one way or another the performance, versatility, and appeal of the G-Class, either by building on its all-terrain capabilities or by honing in on its roadgoing manners while massively supplementing power output.

But, surprisingly or not, the array of prospects developed by Brabus for the G-Class does not end here. There is one more genre they invested serious R&D in and is naturally suitable for the G. Of course, we are talking about armored vehicles. Going by the name of the Invicto Protection Program, it is represented by a series of three lines of concept, Pure, Luxury, and the Mission, based on the G-Class platform.

First introduced a few years ago, in 2020, each variant in the Invicto Program offers cutting-edge grades of defense for its occupants. It utilizes innovative technologies and high-end production processes designed by Brabus, being VR6 Plus ERV protection standard compliant and certified. Basically, that is the same standard that applies to heads of state or other VIPs safeguarding vehicle protocols.

The differentiating factor that makes Brabus' Invicto series stand out from other security vehicle offerings is their Shellter Cell ballistic concept. In other words, the German company steered away from the conventional vehicle armoring techniques implying individually welding armor-plated panels to the vehicle's body shell structure. Brabus engineers went on a different route, developing a "self-contained, self-supporting and bolted protection cell."

The Shelter Cell is assembled into the body shell of the G-Class in a part-by-part manner, and then it gets fastened. The armor plating manufactured by Brabus uses hot-rolled steel, as well as other carefully chosen fabric and fiber structures, including ceramic and metal composite materials.

The panels used are constructed to be precisely fitted, with no gaps between them, whatsoever. Brabus calls it "a zero-gap design," based on material overlapping and making use of so-called labyrinths, ultimately intended to provide maximum security under small arms fire or explosive attacks. A significant advantage of these clever engineering techniques is that the door openings remain unmodified from standard, meaning getting in and out of the vehicle is as comfortable as in any other G-Class.

On the other hand, although achieving a high grade of protection for its occupants, the added heft from all these modifications is only 2,200 lbs (1,000 kg), which is a fair bit less when compared to conventional armored automobiles.

Helping the Invicto lines of machines to cope with this added weight, the guys at Brabus redesigned the whole drivetrain to boost driving dynamics, durability, and resilience. Some of these modifications include replacing the entire wheel suspension from each axle with strengthened components and adding reinforcements to the side members frame areas and to the strut towers.

The Invicto Luxury flavor is the most exclusive in the line-up, built upon the excellent platform of the G500 or G 63 AMG series. In this case, Brabus does its magic fiddling with the 4.0-liter twin-turbo eight-cylinder powerhouse, at most being able to fit their 800 performance package, giving the engine a peak output of 800 hp and 737 lb-ft (1000 Nm) of torque.

Furthermore, the Invicto Luxury G-Class interior compartment comes finished with the most pleasing materials that Brabus' craftsmen are able to put in their cars, including fine leather and Alcantara that can be customized to suit the owner's preferences. Not least, the Invicto Luxury line can be equipped with the Widestar widebody kit, which can optionally include carbon fiber elements for a more aggressive appearance.

The Pure flavor of the Invicto aims for a more understated look, being almost indistinguishable from the production car, as Brabus themselves put it, "it consequently offers protection in its purest form." The safety grade of the machine remains the same, while the bodywork and interior layout remain visually unchanged from a regular model.

Conversely, the Mission is aimed toward an armed force use-case scenario, such as police, emergency services, special forces, and security guards. Distinguishing features include 20-inch off-road run-flat tires, a front winch, a front LED headlamp assembly, a rugged roof rack, a pair of remote-controlled rotating rear searchlights, and even an armored escape hatch fitted to the roof of the vehicle.

The interior space is also designed for its occupants to be able to wear their protective vests and custom gear by offering custom bucket seats with a five-point seatbelt harness and door panels that are the MOLLE (Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment) system used by the military forces to fasten their equipment. More importantly, the Mission line of Invicto vehicles also benefits from a comprehensive monitoring and navigation system, an infrared package with night-vision instruments, and can even offer a fresh air system with an NBC filter for the interior space.

Of course, these tanks on wheels do not come cheap. But, for the right individuals, the level of protection that the Invicto series offers might be priceless. Talking numbers, the Pure variant has a starting cost of €488,495 ($484,250) while the Luxury and Mission configurations carry even more hefty sticker prices of €620,466 ($615,074) and €665,210 ($659,429), respectively. If paying Rolls Royce Cullinan money on a bullet-proof G-Class might just be your thing, consider that delivery might take around 6 to 12 months from your initial order.