Brabus 800 Roadster: Because the 621-hp Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Is for Wussies [2013 Geneva Auto Show]

When imagining a 6.0-liter twin-turbo V-12, 621 horsepower and 738 lb-ft of torque sounds pretty good, doesn't it? Mercedes-Benz AMG thinks so, too, and that's what the SL65 AMG roadster delivers. Bodo Buschmann thinks otherwise. His tuning house, Brabus, has taken AMG's most powerful roadster and upgraded it to 788 horsepower, or 800 PS (Germany's measurement for horsepower), hence the "800″ designation. Maximum torque is limited to 811 lb-ft—that's limited from the engine's max torque, which is 1047 lb-ft—in order to protect the seven-speed automatic transmission that carries over from the SL65. To achieve this power and torque output, Brabus has upgraded the turbocharging system; the car's quartet of intercoolers require a large and very prominent scoop in the hood, which is done in carbon fiber. The extra power means superior performance: While the SL65 is governed at 155 mph, a figure that can be raised to 186, the Brabus 800 tops out at a 217—a remarkable number, particularly considering it's governed. The length of time that passes when moving from a standstill to 62 mph is shortened from the stock version's 3.9 seconds down to 3.7. An aerodynamics package helps to keep the roadster glued to the road even at brisk, 200-plus-mph velocities. Comparison Test: Corvette ZR1 vs. SL65 AMG Black Series, Murciélago LP640, Viper SRT10 First Drive: 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG First Drive: 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster There's more we like: The Brabus 800 sits an inch lower than the SL65 on which it's based, it is available with a 40-percent-locking differential, and it comes with a plainly audible exhaust system featuring active sound management controlled by a button mounted on the steering wheel. Its 20-inch aluminum wheels look beautiful on the 255/30 front and 305/25 rear tires. We are less convinced about the merits of the Brabus 800′s interior, with its "honeycomb" patterns and headrest embroidery. But pompous interior upgrades can always be deleted. We'll take the rest. from Car and Driver Blog http://blog.caranddriver.com

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