Archive for Brabus
SUV Theme Week Closes
The SUV theme week added a bit of interesting flavor to the blog. I think we’ll continue to keep an eye out for the occasional German born beast to compliment the svelte roadsters we post. As always if there is a theme you would like to see us try shoot us an e-mail, dan@motoringblogs.com.
While we didn’t find any of the following for sale, I thought we just couldn’t leave an ultimate German SUV discussion without posting these.
If you are a Benz fan and want the highest form of expression of the G55 you actually have a pair of options.
You could go with the killer 600 horsepower Hamann Typhoon with 6 sidepipe exhaust:
or the even more crazy 700 horsepower, 800+ lb ft torque Brabus G V12 S Biturbo. Can you imagine a heavy truck with shape and weight of a small house that can hit 60 MPH in 4.3 seconds? The price tag is near $400,000.
Not to leave you BMW folks out, here is one of my favorite clips of Hans Joachim Stuck motoring an X5 LeMans arround a track. The car features the same V12 engine from the BMW LMR racer. Just listen to the engine howl on that thing. 700+ horsepower and it was faster around Nurburgring, 7:49, then a Gallardo a Ferrari 360 and even the M3 CSL. Not exactly what the typical American SUV buyer has in mind.
~Evan
2005 Smart Roadster
After the introduction of the original Smart Car in 1998, Smart diversified their lineup by adding the Roadster and Roadster Coupe in 2003 and the Fourfour in 2004. The first generation Smart Car wasn’t officially imported to the US and neither was the Roadster or Forfour. Powered by a turbocharged, three cylinder engine mounted in the rear, this car was likened to a modern day incarnation of the cheap sports car popularized by UK marques such as MG and Triumph. With a low curb weight of just over 1,700 pounds, this car has a power to weight ratio normally found in many exotics. Sadly, due to warranty claims stemming mainly from leaky tops, the Smart Roadster was a failure for parent company Mercedes-Benz and production halted in 2006.
2005 Smart Roadster for sale in Hemmings
The seller states:
Here’s a rare one. A Smart Roadster with large Michalak wheels, low profile tires and a new tuned exhaust system. This sport roadster gets 50-60 mpg on the highway. Never imported into the U.S. and 1 of only 5,000 produced. Heres your chance to own a sports car that can actually save you money on gas!
This car presents an opportunity to be one of the very few in the US to own one of these. Even so, the $18,000 entry fee seems a bit steep. After sifting through eBay UK, the highest priced Smart Roadster I came across was a 2006 Brabus edition for just shy of £10,000 (about $15,000). Given there are probably zero others on the US market right now, the seller is obviously thinking he can name his price. The only lingering question I have regarding a car like this is how difficult it might be to register it in certain states.
-Paul
$7,500 – 1986 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16V
One can argue that the E30 M3 is the purest driving machine that BMW has ever produced. I don’t think it’d be too much of a stretch to say that the 190E 2.3-16V is the Mercedes-Benz counterpart.
What I’ve found on Craigslist is a nice example of the 16V located in California with some interesting modifications. You know the basic story; Cosworth-tuned engine, Dog Leg gearbox, Recaro seats, sporty body kit, classic MB build quality.
This owner has taken on the difficult task of trying to improve and already stellar looking Mercedes. While his choice to use an S550 grill and some funky painted Brabus wheels are questionable in my book, he’s also invested in rebuilding the 2.3 liter mill and upgrading it with a new ECU, high-flowing exhaust and a spec clutch to hold the power. You can walk through the rebuild and upgrades on his photo album here: 190E Project.
1986 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16V on Craigslist
Details-
Engine:
159000 Miles
Not even 5000 miles on rebuilt motor with Mercedes Benz OE parts,
Pistons, valves, block, head, water pump, timing chain and rails (everything).
Cars Runs, Brakes and Handles perfectly.
European ECU.
New SPEC Clutch.
8 mm. Racing Wires.
K&S Air Filter.
Synthetic Oil Mobil1.
Cat Back 2” Tubing with High Flow Remus Muffler and RBTech Flat Black Tip.Suspension (original):
Front; Coils & Shocks.
Rear; Coils & Self leveling Hydraulic Shocks.Body:
Flawless Custom Paint Tanzanite Blue cc 359.
No dings.
All Original Badges in Flat Black.
Straight Body.
Custom grill (S550) style.
European style By-Xenon Head Lights (high and low).
Clear Side Markers.
LED 3rd. Brake Light.
Custom Painted Calipers (Lamborghini Yellow).
Brembo Cross Drilled Rotors (new).
Wheels 18×8.5 Original Brabus MB VI Flat Black With Yellow Stripe to Match Calipers.
Tires General Super Steel 595 225/35-18 (new 150 miles on them).Interior:
Power Steering.
Sun Roof.
Power Seats.
Power Windows (rear left does not work.).
Power Locks (with remote alarm).
Custom White Instrument Cluster.
Custom Painted Dashboard & matching Custom Shifter.
Aluminum Brushed Racing Pedal Set.
Leather Seats (driver and rear driver’s side have small ters).
A/C need to be Serviced.
OE Floor Mats.
3”DVD, CD, MP3, FM, AM Head Unit.
7” Monitor (Passenger side Visor).
Iphone/Ipod connector.
2 Alpine Amplifiers, 10” Pioneer L5 Solo Berk in a custom Box.
4 Infinity Speakers.
Radar Detector Vector LXi.
Gucci Rear Deck.
Window Tint 30% shade.
-Ben
2001 Brabus SV12 – FrankenBenz
This may look like that flashy Mercedes S-Class with big wheels that you’ve seen around town but what we have is actually in a whole different league. The Brabus SV12 sold for over $400,000 back in 2001. Brabus replaces so much on the Benz that they are actually certified as a manufacturer by the German authorities.
So what have they done?
Expanding the V12 from 5.8 to 6.7 liters bumps horsepower up to 450. The end result? Sixty is dashed in just over 5 seconds taking this behemoth to a top speed of 189 mph. They’ve also upgraded to 6 piston cross-drilled rotors front and rear, 19-inch staggered Monoblock V wheels, full Brabus exhaust, full Brabus body kit…and that’s just the exterior.
On the inside you are greeted by enough leather, TVs and tray tables to think you were at your favorite lounge. Add to that the built-in radar and “air conditioned pulse massage seats” and you should have no problem feeling comfortable as you speed along in this bruiser.
The owner is only looking for 1/16th of the original window sticker.
-Ben
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