BRABUS MERCEDES BENZ EV12 Review

Despite being in a league of extraordinary supercars when it comes to performance, the Brabus E V12 is not exactly uncomfortable. On the contrary, actually, We're not only talking about the suspension setup alone but about the whole package. Even though as we mentioned before our test car wasn't equipped with the S-Klasse adaptive air suspension with Active Body Control, all E V12s (they're not that many, actually) come with electronically-controlled dampers by Bilstein in standard.

In other words, the driver can choose between ttwo separate damping modes, depending on his mood and, of course, driving style. Although “Sport” and “Comfort” modes are available, the system continuously monitors the road conditions and automatically switches to the right mode if necessary. The cute thing about it is that it switches back to the one the driver has chosen as soon as the road conditions and driving style allow it.

For example, if you switch it to “Comfort” (like we did, for most of the time), but after a while you jump into an autobahn race with a Lamborghini Murcielago LP 640 (like we would have liked to) the system will automatically switch to “Sport” mode. The opposite thing will happen if you're in “Sport” mode and the road transforms from smooth silk to a paved nightmare. Fancy stuff, considering it's from a tuner!

As far as the seating goes, the Brabus E V12 is close to perfection, and by perfection we mean something that's both comfortable and supportive. There is no way that a longer trip will tire its passengers no matter the road conditions or the speed. Even if the seats were originally in a rather hardcore C 63 AMG, cruising at over 150 mph on the autobahn is as comfortable and stable as it gets.

As you all know by now, Brabus has taken the V8 out of a "regular" E500 and substituted it with a bored-out 6.3-liter V12, which includes a new Mahle pistons, a titanium crankshaft, modified cylinder heads and sportier camshafts. A couple of larger than life turbochargers have been strapped on afterwards and plumbed to four intercoolers. You've read that correctly, there are four intercoolers.

Subtle but big air intakes are carved into the engine hood to stop this nuclear power plant from total meltdown when you hit the throttle, but to also act as a pseudo-ram intake for better breathing at higher speeds. In Brabus-speak, this engine is known as the SV12 R Biturbo, but you just need to know it's almost as powerful as a sixteen-cylinder, quad-turbocharged Bugatti Veyron. And much more torquey, we should add.

800 horsepower and 1420 Nm (1047 lb ft) of torque. These numbers wil probably haunt us until we test something even more powerful.

Also, one of Brabus' PR managers told us that there should be no fears on the longevity front. This engine has been so meticulously engineered that it is compliant with the Euro V emissions regulations, will return a better than expected fuel economy (obviously with a relaxed right foot), and delivers CO2 emissions that are quite reasonable considering this kind of performance.

Obviously, even the Brabus tuners reckoned that this engine's full 1420 Nm (1047 lb ft) of torque would be too much for the Maybach-sourced 5G-Tronic, so the twin-turbo V12's total output has been electronically limited to “just” 1100Nm (811 lb ft) of torque. Ntz ntz ntz.

Although the gadget list in our test car might easily fill just about any desire, we didn't exactly found the mother load of gadgetry in the Brabus E V12 we drove. Yes, there are a lot of toys and buttons to fiddle with, but nothing which you can't find in a properly equipped Mercedes-Benz S 600. Not to say this is a poorly equipped car, far from it, it's just that everything is made to please its occupants in a more subdued fashion. In other words, it's not the gadgets that should tickle your senses, but the overall feel of the car.

The auto-dimming feature is present both on the center rear-view mirror and the exterior ones, making sure you don't get blinded by an over-achieving HID light while driving into the night. As we mentioned before, our test car was equipped with electrically adjustable, heated and highly "hugging" seats both in the front and on the two outboard positions of the rear seat.

The Harman Kardon audio system and the TV/DVD system could also come in handy if you suffer from car sickness and don't like driving. Another time-consuming but fun feature which we somewhat abused was the control for the Bilstein addaptive shocks suspension. As we mentioned before, it has two different hardness settings.

Apparently, the Brabus E V12 is more of a driver's car than we expected, despite the gigantic leg room in and the size of the rear doors. The remote-controlled opening of the luggage compartment and the doors wich close with a nice thunk also gave us plenty of smiles every time. Also, the four-zone climate control system with digital controls for four different passengers was nothing to be ashamed about, especialy since this feature was usully reserved for the Mercedes-Benz S-Klasse until now.

With five whole stars at EuroNCAP's test and "good" marks at the IIHS, the new W212 E-Klasse is one of the safest cars in its class, if not even the safest. At least when it comes to passive safety, that is. The very stiff safety cell, invented by Daimler's own Bela Barenyi, together with intricate crumple zones weren't the only things that made the "E" receive top marks, as the standard array of airbags is also more than helpful in the unfortunate situation of an accident.

No less than seven airbags are fitted on the car in standard: two frontal airbags with dual-stage, two side thorax airbags, two head airbags that stretch from the front to the rear and a knee airbag for the driver. Two more thorax airbags are available as an option for the rear passengers, which would bring the total number available to nine.

As far as the active safety features go, the Brabus version we tested is as equipped as any E500 or even the E 63 AMG, since Mercedes has been including the electronic stability control in standard on all its cars for about a decade now.

For the sake of argument, our test car was fitted with an anti-lock braking system, electronic stability control with hill-start assist, anti-skid regulator and emergency braking assist. On top fot hat, we also had the patented Pre-Safe system with distronic Plus, that automatically brakes and/or accelerates the car according to the traffic conditions in front. If that's not enough to calm the spirits about the E-Klasse's safety, we don't know what is.

Brabus has been transforming regular Mercedes-Benz models into thunderous beats on wheels for more than thirty years now. During this time, their sustained efforts in creating insane pieces of machinery have paid off, with the former garage tuner becoming an actual car manufacturer. On top of that, they also have more than a handful of Guinness Book record in their trophy room, with most of them reading "World's fastest four door sedan". Not too shabby for a company which first saw the light of day in 1977.

If that's not enough to act as their credentials, they also have an unparalleled reputation for creating supercars out of "ordinary" tri-star vehicles that can be driven on an everyday basis, whether it's to the country club or to a track. Because this is what the E V12 is all about. A Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, a catwalk silhouette but enough muscle to win a Mister Olympia competition or a silverback gorilla on crack that's wearing a Saville Row suit and has manners. Whichever comparo you'd choose you'd be dead right. In a world where globalization, increased government rules and overly-homogenized cars, the Brabus E V12 is the black sheep of the supercar family. In other words, it's utterly brilliant.

We're very sorry, but we don't have anything bad or ugly to tell you about this car. Our objectivity went right out the window as soon as that 800 horsepower, twin-turbocharged soundtrack began to play. There are cars that might have better looks, better fuel consumption or a (much) better price. But, for the time being at least, nothing comes close to this demon of a car from our point of view.