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Rockets are big, heavy things, with immense amounts of power to enable their bulk to reach huge speeds. German tuner Brabus is well-versed in the art of turning luxury saloons into wheeled missiles, and its latest creations prove that weight can easily be overcome with pure power.
The Mercedes-Benz S 63 4MATIC, no slouch by any means, has received some electronic fettling under the bonnet to give its 4.0-litre turbocharged V8 more menace. The snappily-titled 'Brabus B40-700 PowerXtra' upgrade means that 700hp and 950Nm of torque are now on offer, resulting in a 0-100km/h time of 3.3 seconds and a top speed of 300km/h, though a module allowing even higher speeds is reportedly under development.
For the Mercedes-Maybach S 650, things are a little different. No simple upgrades here, as Brabus has taken the step of replacing the engine with its own 'Brabus 900' unit, a 6.3-litre, twin-turbo V12. The '900' in the name signifies horsepower output, and the unit produces a downright ridiculous 1500Nm of torque.
Based on the Mercedes 6.0-litre V12 engine, the Brabus powerplant utilises special internals, bigger turbos and all sorts of intake, exhaust and electronic trickery. Performance figures for the 2.8-tonne saloon are breathtaking; 0-100km/h in 3.7 seconds and a top speed of over 350km/h, all while the occupants enjoy the opulence of the high-end interior.
Being a tuner at heart, Brabus couldn't resist marking its creations with its own signature style, and to that end, various exterior and interior styling changes have been made to both cars, the most immediately obvious being the new wheels and reshaped bumpers. Inside the S 63, carbon fibre replaces wood, with tailor-made aluminium components such as the pedals and gearshift paddles also appearing. The Maybach S 650 takes a different, more luxurious approach, and includes two Microsoft tablet PCs and a specially-designed console between the rear seats, in effect creating a 350km/h office. Mad.