Brabus

Infobox_Company
company_name = Brabus
company_
company_type = Private
foundation = 1977
location = Bottrop, Germany
key_people =
industry = Automotive
products = Automobiles| homepage = [http://www.brabus.de/ Brabus]

Brabus, founded 1977 in Bottrop (Ruhr Area), Germany by Klaus "Bra"ckmann and Bodo "Bus"chmann, is a high-performance aftermarket tuning company which specializes in Mercedes-Benz, Smart and Maybach vehicles.

Owned by Bodo Buschmann, Brabus has since become the largest Mercedes tuner, other than Mercedes-AMG who became a DaimlerChrysler affiliate in the 1990s. Its competitors include Lorinser, Carlsson, Kleemann, and Renntech.

Brabus's primary focus is to achieve maximum engine performance through the increase of both horsepower and torque. Customers can either buy cars straight from Brabus or send in their Mercedes to be customized and/or overhauled. If a customer orders a car from Brabus, Brabus buys the particular car from Mercedes and then modifies it in-house according to the customer's requests. Brabus is known for providing very expensive tuning and custom solutions, making an "if you have to ask the price, you can't afford it" scenario.

Brabus offers simple upgrades such as low profile spoilers, bodykits, carbon fiber splitters, and multi-piece alloy wheels. More serious upgrades include racing LSDs, open racing exhaust systems, twelve-piston disc brakes, and engine remapping. However, most customers pay for complete engine overhauls for which Brabus has become famous. The company typically orders crate engines from AMG and completely redesigns them to a level such that Brabus is now officially considered its own auto manufacturer as opposed to a tuning company.

Brabus engines range from small 200 horsepower K4 blocks for SLK roadsters and CLK-Class to 730 horsepower twin-turbo blocks for the CL-Class, CLS-Class, and S-Class. The company also provides improvements to the interior from custom upholstery, gauges, shiftknobs, pedals, and trim to various electronics such as wider LCD screens for the Maybach.

Records

Brabus had held several world records.

* In 1996 Brabus E V12 achieved world speed record for street-legal sedan at 330 km/h (205.1 mph).
* In 2003 Brabus E V12 Biturbo made a new record for street-legal sedan at 350.2 km/h (217.6 mph).
* In 2006 Brabus Rocket clocked in new record for street-legal sedan at [http://www.emercedesbenz.com/Jun06/27_Brabus_Rocket_Becomes_Worlds_Fastest_Sedan.html 362.4 km/h (225.2 mph).] The Rocket was based on a modified Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class W219 model.
* In October 2006 Brabus made another record (for a sedan) with this car at [http://www.emercedesbenz.com/Jun06/27_Brabus_Rocket_Becomes_Worlds_Fastest_Sedan.html 365.7 km/h (227.2 mph). ] The price of the car is 348,000 euros. [ [http://www.worldcarfans.com/tuners.cfm/country/gcf/tunerID/7061121.002/mercedes/brabus-rockets-to-366km-h-world-record Brabus Rockets to 366km/h World Record] ]
* A world-record speed of 330.6 km/h (205.2 mph) set on the high-speed test track in Nardo, Italy; Brabus added to its extensive collection of automotive records with a Maybach 57 powered by a 730-hp (720 hp SAE net) / 537-kW Brabus SV12 S Biturbo engine.

Competing Mercedes-Benz performance specialists

*Carlsson
*Kleemann
*Mercedes-AMG
*Renntech

References

External links

* [http://www.brabus.de Brabus Official Germany site]
* [http://www.brabus.com/index_en.html Brabus official UK site]
* [http://www.brabus.de/index_usa.html Brabus Official USA site]
* [http://fancytuning.com/tag/brabus-tuning/ Brabus Tuning]