There are few cars that have a commanding presence straight from the factory in the same manner as a Mercedes-AMG G63 does. At least, that was our experience from when we reviewed one last year (you can read that review by clicking here). But German speed meisters Brabus felt the large SUV could do with an added level of aggro and more speed. So they created the car pictured here, called the Brabus 900 Rocket Edition. Just 25 units will be built and the price (at today’s exchange rate) is about R8,1m, without factoring in import duties or taxes.

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Strong base

As mentioned the Brabus 900 Rocket Edition is based on Mercedes-AMG’s G63, which is already a pretty formidable machine. From there the company gives it a complete rework, both outside, inside and under the skin to create, what it calls, the Godfather of SUVs.

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The most obvious change takes place on the exterior that now features one of the brand’s signature widebody kits. The bespoke kit adds 100 mm to the G63s already wide stance. The kit includes a front spoiler with side flaps on both sides and a radiator grille with integrated ram-air intakes, ‘Rocket” logos, a roof spoiler and diffuser along with plenty of exposed carbon-fibre. Under the wider arches are a set of Brabus Monoblock Z ‘Platinum’ alloy wheels with a diameter of 24 inches that feature aero discs in exposed carbon.

Massive power

Brabus starts with the G63’s V8, but gives it a thorough working over. The largest change is an increase in displacement from 4,0 to 4,5-litres. Brabus achieves this through a rebore and restroke. New forged pistons and conrods, along with a billet crankshaft replace all the stock AMG internals. Two new turbochargers, with a larger compressor unit and a special core assembly, produce maximum boost pressure of 1,4 bar. 

The sum total of these changes is peak power of 662 kW (900 hp) a massive increase of 231 kW and a peak torque value of 1 250 N.m. Although, Brabus says it had to taper that figure down to 1 050 N.m when it installed the engine in the car, presumably as to no destroy the standard nine-speed automatic transmission. The net result is that the 2,5-ton Brabus 900 Rocket Edition can sprint from 0-100 km/h in 3,7 seconds and has an electronically limited top speed of 280 km/h.