Well, given Brabus’ history with the sedan and coupe variants of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, it was only a matter of time before the German tuner would give the Convertible model its acclaimed “800″ treatment. And what a treatment it is: a 6.3-litre V12 biturbo with 596 kW (800 HP, hence the name) that makes this car not only the most powerful, but, with a top speed of 370 km/h, also the fastest four-seater cabriolet in the world.
The Brabus engineers drew upon their experience gained with the development of the E V12 sedan and coupe. The most powerful engine that Brabus makes is based on the 3-valve per cylinder V12 of the Mercedes S63 AMG, but with many modifications.
These include optimised cylinder heads, sports camshafts and a special crankshaft with longer stroke and larger pistons which along with the cylinders’ larger bore, increase the V12’s capacity from 5.5- to 6.3-litres. The modifications don’t stop there. The E V12 Convertible has a new intake manifold, two exhaust manifolds with integrated turbochargers for better efficiency and no less than four water-to-air intercoolers. The ECU is reprogrammed and the 5-speed auto gearbox had to be reinforced in order to withstand not just the power, but also the colossal torque, which can reach 1 420 Nm, but is electronically limited to “just” 1 100 Nm.
All this power is directed to the rear wheels via a limited-slip differential with a locking rate of 40%. Performance is, naturally, exceptional: apart from the 370 km/h top speed, the E V12 accelerates from 0 – 100 km/h in 3.7 seconds and reaches 200 km/h in just 9.9 seconds and 300 km/h in 23.9 seconds.
The suspension is recalibrated, with adjustable dampers, and the aerodynamic modifications to the widened E-Class Cabrio bodywork are not just made of carbon fibre, but they have been tested in a wind tunnel in order to reduce lift and provide the stability that is essential for a car with such performance. The Brabus 800 E V12 is built to order, with its price starting from €478 000.
