Brabus SV12 R: Tuned Mercedes-Benz S600 with 750HP Heads to Frankfurt

For Mercedes-Benz tuning specialist Brabus, there's no replacement for displacement... expect more displacement and a pair of turbos. And that's exactly what the German firm did to the facelifted Mercedes-Benz S600 that is now powered by a modified version of the 5.5-liter V12 engine with bigger turbos and an enlarged displacement of 6.3-liters producing 750HP at 5,500 rpm and an electronically limited peak torque of 1,100 Nm (811 lb-ft).

All that power is transferred to the rear wheels through a modified five-speed automatic transmission while buyers can also opt for a BRABUS locking differential.

Acceleration from standstill to 100 km/h (62mph) comes after 4.0 seconds, 200 km/h (124 mph) after only 11.9 seconds while the saloon's maximum speed is electronically limited to 340km/h or 211 mph.

The Brabus SV12R rides on 21-inch alloy wheels (available in various designs) wrapped in Pirelli or YOKOHAMA tires in size 265/30 ZR 21 up front and 295/30 ZR 21 on the rear axle.

The beefed up S600 also gets a high-performance brake system with 12-piston aluminum fixed calipers and 380 x 36-mm (15.0 x 1.42 inches) vented and cross-drilled discs at the front, and 355 x 28-mm (14.0 x 1.1 inches) discs and six-piston aluminum fixed calipers on the rear axle along with sportier suspension set-up.

Being a Brabus and all, the SV12 R receives a cosmetic upgrade with a new bodykit that includes a new front bumper with integrated LED lights, side skirts, a discreet boot lid spoiler, a new rear diffuser that also houses the quad tailpipes and side air vents.

Interior enhancements include a newly created BRABUS Yachting trim that blends maple and tropical Wenge wood and a full leather treatment in a combination of light-beige and dark-brown leather.

The Brabus SV12 R will make its world debut at next week's Frankfurt motorshow.

Old Skool Tuning: 1983 Mercedes-Benz 560SE with 386HP by Inden Design

Always had a thing for the Mercedes-Benz W126 (1979-1991) with its simple, uncluttered and yet amazingly elegant and timeless styling - a feat never again repeated by the luxury sedan's S Class successors, anyone disagree? This particular example you see pictured above, is a 1983 model modified by Germany's Inden Design in 1991. Being the company's first ever Mercedes product, Inden Design thought that it would be a cool idea to photograph the car and share with us a piece of its history.

The completely blacked out 1983 W126 was upgraded with the 1986 facelift model's bumpers and side covers and the US-spec model's headlamps and tail lights while there's also a sport exhaust system with dual pipes. The lowered suspension and the widened fenders that house 18-inch alloy wheels shod in 255/35 R18 tyres up front and (overly) massive 315/30 R18 tyres at the back, offer the W126 an even more aggressive stance.

The W126's interior, which is completely covered in black Nappa leather, boasts a set of König sport seats up front and special wood trim.

The classic Merc is powered by a 6.0-liter V8 engine from the 560SE producing over 368 horsepower while stopping power comes courtesy of an upgraded 6-piston sports brake system with 352 x 32mm discs from AP Racing.

2009 Mercedes-Benz S320 CDi BluEFFICIENCY: Most Frugal S-Class Ever

Who needs a complicated and apparently expensive, hybrid drivetrain when you can achieve an average fuel consumption of 7.6 lt/100 km (31 mpg US) in a fully equipped large saloon like the S-Class simply by using a diesel engine and a few supplementary measures? Even Merc’s own S400 Hybrid isn’t that good sipping an average of 7.9 liters of petrol for every 100 km (29.8 mpg US). -Continued

And even if the S320 CDi is a tad slower than the S400 Hybrid completing the 0 to 100 km/h (62mph) sprint in 7.8 sec instead of 7.2 sec (top speed for both models is 250 km/h), the difference is insignificant for your typical S-Class owner that that will most likely use the vehicle as a highway cruiser and not a highway racer

The latest variant of Merc’s luxury saloon, which is due to take over from the S 320 CDI from the end of this year, is equipped with the same V6 turbo diesel powerplant as before delivering an output of 235 HP and 540 Nm. But thanks to the BluEFFICIENCY package that includes on-demand power steering, a 7G-TRONIC seven-speed automatic transmission with standstill decoupling, as well as 17-inch light-alloy wheels shod with reduced rolling resistance tires, the German automaker has managed to reduce the standard S320 CDI's average consumption by 0.2 lt /100 km.

Adding to its allure, pricing for the BlueEFFICIENCY S-Class model in Germany remains the same as the S320 CDI at €70,864.50 (incl. VAT) and at €78,718.50 for the long-wheelbase version.

Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid Video

The road-ready petrol-electric Mercedes-Benz S400 BlueHybrid limousine will make its debut at next week’s Paris motorshow. The German automaker promises that although the S400 Hybrid is more powerful and slightly faster than the S350 upon it is based, it betters the average fuel consumption of the conventionally powered S-Class limo by up to 2.2 lt /100 km, at 7.9 lt /100 km. Hit the jump for the video or click here for more details on Merc’s first production hybrid model. -Continued