Brabus GmbH is a German automotive tuning company based in Bottrop in the Ruhr area. Founded in 1977, it concentrates on Mercedes-Benz, Maybach and Smart vehicles, turning standard saloons and roadsters into faster and more expensive cars.
Brabus at a glance
| Founded | 1977, Bottrop, West Germany |
|---|---|
| Founders | Bodo Buschmann and Klaus Brackmann |
| Company name | first three letters of Brackmann and Buschmann |
| Main work | tuning of Mercedes-Benz, Maybach and Smart cars |
| Engine range | from 200 hp for SLK and CLK to 900 hp twin-turbo units for the S-Class |
| Other work | body kits, wheels, brakes, exhausts, interiors and electronics |
| Joint venture | smart-BRABUS GmbH, 50–50 with Daimler, from 2001 |
| Subsidiaries | Brabus Classic, Brabus Yachting, Brabus Private Aviation, STARTECH |
| STARTECH | tuning of Jaguar, Land Rover and Aston Martin cars |
| Third factory | started in Bottrop in 2012 |
| Other marques | Porsche, Bentley, Rolls-Royce, Land Rover and Lamborghini have also been modified |
This article is based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on Brabus.
History of the Brabus
Brabus began with Bodo Buschmann wanting to customise his own cars. Most existing tuners could not follow his plans, so he started a company of his own. German law required at least two founders, so in 1977 he registered Brabus GmbH together with his friend Klaus Brackmann. The name was made from the first three letters of the two surnames, Brackmann and Buschmann. Brackmann soon sold his shares to Buschmann for 100 Deutsche Mark.
The company built its reputation on more power and more speed. A customer can order a complete car, in which case Brabus buys a Mercedes-Benz and modifies it, or send in an existing car for work. The range of engines has run from small 200 hp four-cylinder units for the SLK roadster and CLK-Class to 900 hp twin-turbo engines for the S-Class. Brabus also fits low-profile spoilers, body kits, carbon-fibre splitters and multi-piece alloy wheels, and offers racing limited-slip differentials, open exhaust systems, twelve-piston brakes and engine remapping. Interiors can be rebuilt with custom upholstery, gauges and electronics.
In 2001 Daimler and Brabus set up smart-BRABUS GmbH as an equal joint venture. The group now includes Brabus Classic, which sells and restores older Mercedes-Benz cars, Brabus Service as an authorised Mercedes-Benz service partner, Brabus Yachting for boats, Brabus Private Aviation for aircraft and STARTECH for Jaguar, Land Rover and Aston Martin cars. A third factory in Bottrop was begun in 2012. Brabus has also modified Porsche, Rolls-Royce, Land Rover, Lamborghini and, from 2025, Bentley cars.
Design and features
- Engine work: from tuning packages for standard engines to complete engine overhauls and modified AMG crate engines.
- Wide model coverage: A-Class, B-Class, C-Class and S-Class among others, each with its own Brabus designations.
- Cosmetic packages: spoilers, body kits, carbon-fibre parts and multi-piece wheels.
- Group of companies: restoration, yachts, aircraft, service and tuning of other marques under one roof.
Brabus versions
- Brabus SL 750: a tuned Mercedes-Benz SL roadster.
- Brabus Smart ForTwo: the result of the smart-BRABUS joint venture.
- Brabus 900 (S-Class): the largest twin-turbo V12 conversions.
- Brabus Classic: restoration and sale of older Mercedes-Benz models.
Brabus works on cars from the S-Class and C-Class to the Smart, and it is a rival of the factory tuner Mercedes-AMG. More in the Mercedes-Benz collection.
Video: Brabus S-Class B63
Video by YouTube on YouTube.
Sources
- Brabus, English Wikipedia: history, founders, engine range, subsidiaries
