Brabus will now sell you an 800bhp Mercedes-AMG GLS

By topgear, 10 June 2021

Are you the kind of person that thinks the 603bhp V8-engined Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 is just too pedestrian and discreet? Are you also the kind of person that thinks the chromed Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 is a little too jazzy? You are? Great news, we’ve got just the thing for you and your extremely interesting taste…

Say hello to the Brabus 800 version of the GLS 63, complete with 789bhp and 1,000Nm of torque from its mild-hybrid-equipped twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8.

Brabus fits upgraded turbochargers and a new ECU to get to that monumental power figure, although top speed remains limited to 280kph. Probably for the best, right? The 0-100kph sprint can apparently be dispatched in 3.8 seconds, which is 0.4 seconds quicker than standard and is frankly ridiculous for a 2.6-tonne, seven-seat SUV.

The exterior hasn’t escaped the Brabus treatment either. There’s a new carbon fibre front splitter, wheel arch extensions and a diffuser, plus those two additional air intakes in the grille.

brabus gls
brabus gls

Check out those wheels too. They’re massive 24-inch forged monoblocks clad with extremely low-profile Continental tyres.

Brabus has also dropped the GLS by around 25mm with a new control unit for the air suspension, and there’s a new stainless-steel exhaust system with flaps to switch between ‘Sport’ and ‘Coming Home’ modes.

On the inside there’s plenty of soft leather, as well as plenty of carbon fibre (shock) and new aluminium paddle shifters for the nine-speed auto gearbox. Quite the thing, isn’t it?

Thoughts, folks?