Aftermarket tuning company Brabus has decided that the Mercedes-Benz G500 simply isn’t powerful enough and have now given it a ‘once over’, Brabus style. Despite the G500 being good for 309kW (415hp) of power and 610Nm (450lb-ft) of torque, Brabus have released a new tuning kit for the 4.0L V8 engine which pushes things up to 368kW (493hp) and 709Nm (523lb-ft).
Brabus was able to free up all this extra power by designing a custom control module which they used to tweak the engine management system, which adjusted boost pressure and also the mapping for the fuel injection and ignition. They’ve also fitted a stainless steel exhaust with butterflies that vary between “Sport” and an appropriately named “Coming Home” mode at the press of a button. The chrome tailpipes add an extra visual pop, too.
Despite the power increase though, the Brabus G500 isn’t going to set the road on fire – with the run from 0-100km/h (62mph) still taking some 6.9 seconds to complete. It’s brisk, but owners still run the chance of being chopped by a hot hatchback as they pull away from the lights. The off-road tyres fitted to the vehicle also means the top speed had to be limited to 209 km/h (130 mph).
On top of all that extra grunt, Brabus also have a bunch of added extras for those looking to make their regular G500 a bit more special. There’s a wild body kit which includes new lower bumpers and polished under-body guards. Meanwhile, the hood grows a scoop, and the headlight update adds black-tinted Xenon lights with LED turn signals to replace the units usually on the fenders. Inside, a mix of quilted leather, Alcantara and bright red stitches finishes off the brash tweaks.
For the car on display in Frankfurt, Brabus called on its in-house upholstery shop to stitch together an exclusive quilted leather interior in black with red stitching. The headlining and interior accents are done in faux leather, and, naturally, there’s also plenty of carbon fibre trim. Suffice to say, it’s luxe. Stainless-steel scuff plates with backlit Brabus logos reside in the sills, and optional power-retractable side steps are available to ease entry and exit.
While Brabus hasn’t yet revealed pricing, it does confirm that the vehicle is covered by warranty for up to three years or 62,000 miles. And when it comes to off-roading, the only thing as confidence-inspiring as ample ground clearance and aggressive tires is a comprehensive warranty.