Monday 29th November 2010

Brabus Widestar SLS unveiled

All show and no extra go - yet - for tuned SLS at Essen

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Standard Mercedes SLS too subtle for you? Fear not, Brabus is on the case with its new Widestar package of styling 'upgrades'. Described as a 'custom tailored suit for the Mercedes SLS AMG', the kit was unveiled at the Essen Motor Show, which opened this weekend.

A package of carbon fibre arch extensions and trim details certainly adds some aggression to the SLS's looks, while the rear track is increased by 20mm and the ride height dropped by 30mm via two-mode adjustable Bilstein dampers. Depending on your taste (or lack of it) the carbon fibre additions can be colour matched to the paintwork as shown or left in matt or gloss finished bare carbon.

Finishing touches include carbon fibre side vents with illuminated Brabus logos that light up when you blip the key fob. Forged wheels, 20-inch front and 21-inch rear, look fabulous and are 12 percent lighter than the standard items.

So much for the bling - surely there must be some sort of 700hp engine conversion?

Er, no. At least, not yet. The titanium exhaust adds 10ps to the standard 563hp -and saves 10kg - but as it stands the SLS's 6.2-litre V8 remains unmolested.

A spokesman told us "look out at Geneva" and an accompanying press release boasts the new 250mph speedo 'hints at the car's future performance with Brabus tuning', so we reckon it's a case of 'watching this space'.

[mat205125]

That's the first SLS that I have seen that I think looks absolutely fantastic. To date, I've been less than impressed with the rather plain SLS styling, apart from the doors, however the "M3 CSL style" wheels, and few modern (rather than retro) trim pieces lift the styling a million percent IMO.

[louismchuge]

A brabus without extra oomph?

Chav

[JumpinJack]

WANT!

[Luca Brasi]

God bless Brabus

[130R]

I quite like brabus kits, they did a good job with the SLR too.

[SleeperCell]

Widestar is a terrible name though, it sounds more like the name given to a caravan or something.

[Jaykaybi]

Excellent. Nothing but improvements.

[LongLiveTazio]

Presumably, after ruining the looks and practicality they'll just bolt a turbo on and ruin the power delivery as well.

[Hitch78]

I think it looks terrible - a little chavvy perhaps.

Brabus should fill it with more power, paint it black, change the badge and put some nice wheels on it. In that order. Like they used to.

[johnpeat]

I can't even being to imagine the ride quality on those "sewing bobbins and licorice"...

The standard car isn't noted for being soft

[chazwozza]

prefer the original, not a proper brabus for me...

[goron59]

I went off Brabus when they did the Smart and the Tesla Roadster...

What's next? the Brabus Brompton folding bicycle?

[richard300]

I hate the concept of mixing the products from different 'tuning houses' an AMG car with brabus parts on it..... Its like buying an Alpina and putting a Hartge bodykit, wheels and badges on it, Just turns the car into a missfit.

[Garlick]

So it's just a bodykit for an SLS?

Not what we expect Mr Brabus, not what we expect at all.

[ganser]

The anthracite alloys are gorgeous

[snowy slopes]

I definitely want one, in triple black please

[anything fast]

louismchuge said:

A brabus without extra oomph?

Chav

must be a very very rich chav cos that baby is not cheap! personaly i thinks its the best lookin merc i have seen in a very long time... but for that kind of money it bloody needs to be!

[Beefmeister]

Love the wheels, but very disappointed that Brabus release a car with no performance mods at all.

Smacks of Overfinch to me!!!


Come on Brabus, we want this, in black, with the 7.3 720bhp V12 from the SV12.

[Garlick]

I saw an C32 BRABUS CDI on the M6 on Saturday.

[ManOpener]

Sneaky Schnell said:

I was driving behind a Brabus CLS a few weeks ago. It was fairly standard looking but had the widest rear tyres and biggest brakes I can ever remember seeing.

When I got home I visited the Brabus site and was dismayed to see that they offer styling packs. Also Brabus badges are a bit like //M badges with the amount I see on A150s etc.

The CLS based rocket had 12 piston ceramics all round. Possibly the largest set of brakes ever fitted to anything north of a freight train.