German tuning company Brabus has been adding big power and badass looks to Mercedes-Benz and AMG vehicles since 1977 — and, as of a few years ago, to Porsches, Range Rovers and Rolls-Royces too. But despite its extensive modding history, which includes everything from widebody S-Classes and SLS supercars to six-wheeled G-wagens and delivery vans (and even boats!) Brabus has never produced a car with 1,000 horsepower. That is, until now.
Enter the new Brabus Rocket 1000, the latest entry in Brabus’ Rocket series that are its wildest, most powerful and fastest models. The Rocket 1000 is based on the Mercedes-AMG GT63 S E Performance, the first plug-in-hybrid car from AMG. Using its twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 and hybrid system, the stock GT63 has a combined output of 831 hp and 1,033 pound-feet of torque, and Mercedes says will hit 60 mph in 2.9 seconds and reach a top speed of 196 mph. Already, that’s one of the most powerful and fast Mercedes of all time.
To those stock numbers, Brabus just chuckled and turned everything up way past 11. The engine has been bored up to 4.5 liters and fitted with Brabus turbochargers and other upgraded components, making 796 hp and 774 lb-ft, up from 630 hp and 664 lb-ft on the stock car While the electric motor hasn’t been changed, Brabus has its own tuning and software for the hybrid system. In total the Rocket 1000 has 1,000 hp and 1,342 lb-ft, though the latter is electronically limited to 1,195 lb-ft to protect the transmission. Brabus says the Rocket 1000 will hit 62 mph in just 2.6 and reach 124 mph in 9.7 seconds. Somewhat strangely, the top speed remains the same. As for electric range? Well, Brabus doesn’t quote a figure, but the normal car only has 7 miles of EV range.
The Rocket 1000 looks pretty much the same as the previous Rocket 900, which is to say it looks fucking nuts in the best way — Brabus describes it as “visual space odyssey in every detail,” which feels apt. There’s a carbon-fiber body kit that widens the car by 2.6 inches thanks to wonderfully styled fender flares, plus larger openings and aero flics in the front end, ram-air intakes and glowing red lights in the grille, a large carbon diffuser and a multi-level wing.
Brabus has always been known for its monoblock-style wheel designs, and Rocket 1000 has a cool new interpretation. The forged Monoblock P five-spoke design features carbon-fiber aero inserts, with 21s up front and 22s for the rear that have a massive 335 width. Also fitted to the Rocket 1000 is a suspension module that can lower the car by almost an inch, and it uses the stock carbon-ceramic brakes.
The cabin is less exciting, at least in all black like Brabus’ show car — customers can spec their Rockets however they’d like. Brabus covers nearly every inch in its own quilted and perforated leather, and there are some heritage patterns and “77″ branding that calls back to the founding year. Other interior touches include more carbon accents, aluminum pedals and illuminated door sills.
Only 25 of the Rocket 1000 will be made, and while Brabus hasn’t said what the base price is, there are two available for sale on the brand’s website. Both excluding VAT and converted from Euro, one is the equivalent of around $490,000 while the other is about $517,000. That seems like a small price to pay for what Brabus describes as “a Masterpiece and a quintessential supercar capable of exploring the absolute maximum of what can be achieved through modern performance engineering – reaching cosmic heights and turning the seemingly impossible into reality.”
