BOTTROP, Germany — The celebrated Mercedes-Benz tuner Brabus claims to have developed the fastest street-legal SUV in the world with its new GLK V12, which achieved a top speed of 211 mph at the high-speed Italian test track Nardo Prototipo in mid-October, taking the fastest-SUV crown from TechArt's Porsche Cayenne Turbo.
Brabus started by dropping a massive twin-turbo 6.3-liter V12 into the engine bay of the GLK, with output boosted to 750 horsepower and torque electronically limited to 811 pound-feet. Other engine mods include two intercoolers, high-flow cats and a reconfigured ECU as well as a full stainless-steel high-performance exhaust. All that extra muscle allows it to reach 60 mph in less than 4.2 seconds and 124 mph in just 12.8 seconds, while topping out at a whopping 211 mph.
The SUV is outfitted with a five-speed automatic transmission and rear end from Maybach (meaning the GLK V12 gets all its power delivered to the rear wheels), while Brabus added its own limited-slip differential. A height-adjustable coil-over suspension works with custom 22-inch rims wrapped in Pirelli or Yokohama rubber to give the car a new stance. Stopping power comes from 12-piston aluminum fixed calipers with 15-inch vented and grooved brake discs in the front and six-piston calipers with similar 14.2-inch discs in the rear.
Aesthetically, the German tuner added fender flares that widen the body by 2 inches, a front bumper with large intakes, a carbon-fiber front lip, LED lights on the underside and a roof spoiler.
The interior of the GLK V12 comes with full leather and Alcantara trim, a new steering wheel, a speedometer that goes up to 205 mph and stainless-steel scuff plates with a light-up Brabus logo. Brabus can custom-fit 7-inch LCD screens to the back of the headrests if you want, and has a variety of carbon-fiber and wood trim sets available for an even more customized look.
The Brabus GLK V12 starts at $570,000 and recently debuted at the 2009 Dubai International Auto Show.
Inside Line says: An impressive feat from Brabus — even if it isn't the most attractive SUV on the planet. — Mike Lysaght, Correspondent
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firstclass says:
03:06 PM, 12/25/2009
The Third Reich may be long gone but power crazed Germans still live on. They traded on form of ridicules for another. I hope this car is stable because it's got a high center of gravity huge rims and is faster than most Lamborghinis. This "SUV" is a novelty only; A gift you give someone who actually has everything. I'm with everyone else the GLK is a tall wagon not an SUV. So it beats the Outback as the fastest tall wagon. (imo)
double_duece says:
11:17 AM, 12/25/2009
I'm all for ridiculous vehicles like this one, but I just don't like this one. Might change my mind if i actually drove it. It's truly a sick, vicious kind of vehicle. It's like doing crack for a long time and then saying, "Bah! Give me the acid!!"
93aero says:
04:17 AM, 12/25/2009
i still don't know why they picked this SUV to do it to, maybe its cause its the most car-like. i would have loved to see the GL do this, just from an engineering stand point, hell even an M class. But hey, i suppose this is kind of an achievement,tho worlds fastest SUV should go to more of an SUV .