Mercedes-Benz specialist Brabus has a thing about building insanely fast cars. Now, half a decade after the presentation of what was then billed as the fastest saloon in the world, the limited run Brabus Rocket based on the first generation of the Mercedes-Benz CLS, the German company returns to Frankfurt with a vengeance presenting a new ludicrous proposal.
The successor to the original Rocket is built around the second generation of the CLS sports saloon with power coming from a heavily modified Mercedes-Benz-sourced V12 bi-turbocharged engine.
The German firm’s engineers increased the displacement from 5.5-liters to 6.3-liters and made a host of other upgrades including, but not limited to, a reworked intake, newly configured on-board electronics system and redesigned high-performance turbochargers.
As a result, output is lifted to 800-horses at 5,500 rpm and an enormous peak torque of 1,420Nm (1,047 lb-ft), available from just 2,100 rpm, but limited electronically in the car to 1,100 Nm (811 lb-ft).
A modified seven-speed quick-shift automatic transmission with steering wheel paddles along with a limited slip differential handle the transfer of power to the rear wheels.
Brabus says that the Rocket 800 can reach speeds in excess of 370 km/h (230 mph), making it the world’s fastest street-legal sedan.
And if that’s not enough to impress you, the Rocket 800 goes from zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.7 seconds, to 200 km/h (124 mph) in 9.8 seconds and 300 km/h (186 mph) in 23.8 seconds!
The German company also extensively modified the car’s aerodynamic properties, suspension and brakes.
On the outside, the CLS gains a wide-body aero kit that includes carbon-fiber fender flares on the rear axle that add 40 millimeters (1.6-in.) to the car’s width, front and rear spoilers, a diffuser and more.
The Rocket 800 rides on 19-inch one-piece BRABUS Monoblock F wheels wrapped around tires in size 255/35 ZR19 up front and 285/30 ZR 19 in the rear.
Finally, interior improvements include a bespoke steering wheel, aluminum trim, custom upholstery and a revised instrument panel with a 400km/h (250mph) speedometer.
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