So what if the Mercedes-Benz G500 4×4² has barely been a thing long enough to for the public to wrap its heads around the portal-axle beast? German tuning firm Brabus has already sunk its claws into one, and ratcheted up the power and style of Benz’s mightiest G-wagen to even higher levels of fabsurdity.
Like most objects which receive the Brabus touch, the transformation of the Mercedes-Benz G500 4×4² begins in the engine bay. To up the output of Benz’s twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8, Brabus has cooked up the Brabus B40-500 PowerXtra performance kit. Essentially a plug-in ECU control module that fiddles with the factory electronic engine-management, it allowed Brabus to recalibrate the boost pressure and reprogram the engine mapping and fuel-injection parameters, after which the 4×4² emerged with a claimed 493 horsepower at 5000 rpm and 523 lb-ft of twist available from 2250 to 4250 rpm, improvements of 78 ponies and 74 lb-ft. A stainless-steel sports exhaust system features active control via a wheel-mounted button and “coming home” and “sport” modes.
With the wick turned up, Brabus is quoting a 0-to-62-mph number of 6.9 seconds, as well as a top speed that’s limited to 130 mph to “protect the all-terrain tires.” Considering the prototype of the Mercedes-Benz G500 4×4² we drove wore 37-inch tires and sported 17.7 inches of ground clearance (Brabus hasn’t yet specified any wheel/tire combos or ground-clearance figures of its own), we find that an entirely reasonable precaution.
To inform the hoi polloi that you are not just some rube with a standard-issue Mercedes-Benz G500 4×4², Brabus fits bespoke inserts in the front bumper with LED lamps left and right, as well as a mirror-polished “underride guard”—we heathens call them skid plates, but this one is too pretty to sully—and a custom, clear-coated carbon-fiber radiator surround. There’s also a hood scoop with Brabus insignia. Black-tinted xenon headlamps and DRLs with integrated turn signals illuminate your path, and carbon-fiber covers replace the now-redundant production fender-top turn signals. A custom Brabus rear bumper and polished “underride guard” finish the look.
For the car on display in Frankfurt, Brabus called on its in-house upholstery shop stitch together an exclusive quilted leather interior of black leather with red stitching. The headliner and interior accents are done in faux leather, and, naturally, there’s also plenty of carbon-fiber trim. Suffice to say, it’s luxe. Stainless-steel scuff plates with backlit Brabus logos reside in the sills, and optional power-retractable side steps are available to ease entry and exit.
While Brabus hasn’t yet revealed pricing, it does confirm that the vehicle is covered by warranty for up to three years or 62,000 miles. And when it comes to off-roading, the only thing as confidence-inspiring as ample ground clearance and aggressive tires is a comprehensive warranty.
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