Brabus Debuts 200 mph GLK V12 In Dubai

We like the Mercedes-Benz GLK well enough. The small SUV’s chunky styling has split opinion at the Winding Road office, but we all agree that it’s a pretty good steer, and a really nice size for real world SUV use. None of us have ever requested a 750 horsepower, 995 pound-feet of torque, V-12 engined version of the GLK. Of course, none of us work for the sublimely nutty Brabus, either.

Making its world debut (appropriately we might add) at the Dubai International Motor Show today, the GLK V12 represents the latest Brabus exercise in excess. By reprising its favorite trick of shoehorning a 6.3-liter, biturbo twelve into normally sane vehicle, Brabus has succeeded in creating the, “World’s fastest street-legal SUV.”

That bold claim was backed up in October of this year, when the high-po GLK achieved a top speed of 200.3 miles per hour at a test track.

In addition to a wicked makeover, Brabus has, thankfully, fully uprated suspension, transmission, differential, and aero components. Oh, and the brakes got pretty big, too—a set of 15-inch vented and grooved brakes live out front, pinched by 12-piston calipers.

Price is set at a wisely prohibitive 397,000 Euros, or the current equivalent of about $580K U.S. dollars.

Scroll down to read the full details of the GLK V12 lunacy, and have a look at the record-setting SUV in our attached gallery.

World Debut at the DUBAI INTERNATIONAL MOTOR SHOW

BRABUS GLK V12 = 322.3 km/h from 750 hp / 552 kW
The World’s Fastest Street-Legal SUV

Dubai, December 11th, 2009
With a top speed of 322.3 km/h (200.3 mph) the BRABUS GLK V12 has set a new speed record for street-legal SUVs on the Italian high-speed test track on October 19th, 2009. The exclusive special model, powered by a twelve-cylinder twin turbo engine with 750 hp (740 bhp) / 552 kW, celebrates its world debut at the DUBAI INTERNATIONAL MOTOR SHOW. BRABUS (Brabus-Allee, D-46240 Bottrop, phone + 49 / (0) 2041 / 777-0, fax + 49 / (0) 2041 / 777 111, Internet www.brabus.com) builds this high-performance automobile based on the Mercedes GLK-Class. The BRABUS GLK V12 starts at 397,000 Euros MSRP.

The new BRABUS SV12 R Biturbo 750 engine was implanted in the small engine bay of the GLK with meticulous precision. The engineers and technicians drew upon their experience and know-how gathered from the development and production of the special model BRABUS BULLIT, based on the latest Mercedes C-Class.

The displacement engine, lubricated exclusively with ARAL Synthetic motor oil, delivers 750 hp (740 bhp) / 552 kW at 5,500 rpm and produces a peak torque of 1,350 Nm (995 lb-ft) at 2,100 rpm, limited in the car electronically to 1,100 Nm (811 lb-ft).

To achieve this kind of performance, the engine – based on the latest Mercedes 600 twelve-cylinder engine – was completely re-engineered in the BRABUS engine department. Displacement is increased from 5.5 to 6.3 liters with the help of a special crankshaft, larger cylinder bore, special pistons and piston rods. In addition the three-valve heads are precision-machined and fitted with special camshafts.

For maximum power yield the BRABUS engineers have developed a special twin turbo system with two larger turbochargers and more efficient intercoolers. Free-flow metal catalysts and a fully stainless-steel high-performance exhaust system custom-tailored to the GLK body let the BRABUS SV12 R 750 Biturbo engine breathe more freely.

Custom-programmed engine electronics ensure an optimal symbiosis of power yield, running smoothness and especially eco-friendly exhaust emissions. Special mapping and OnBoard Diagnostics II result in clean emissions that meet the strict requirements of the Euro IV standard. The BRABUS GLK V12 is also equipped with the latest driving dynamics systems such as ABS, ASR and ESP.

The enormous power is transferred to the rear wheels via a reinforced five-speed automatic transmission and a BRABUS limited-slip differential with a locking rate of 40 percent.

Together these measures make the BRABUS GLK V12 the fastest street-legal SUV in the world. But it is not just the incredible top speed of 322.3 km/h (211 mph) that are the basis for its fascination. With an acceleration time from rest to 100 km/h (62 mph) of just 4.2 seconds and 12.8 seconds to 200 km/h (124 mph) the five-door sets new standards for its kind.

BRABUS manages this extraordinary SUV performance with custom modifications to aerodynamics, suspension and brakes.

The front apron of the BRABUS WIDESTAR version was developed in the wind tunnel. Its large air dams provide radiators and front brakes with ample cooling air. In combination with a carbon-fiber spoiler lip the front apron also minimizes aerodynamic lift on the front axle – a prerequisite for directional stability beyond 300 km/h (186 mph).

Favorable aerodynamic properties were also a top priority for the design of the BRABUS WIDESTAR fender flares on front and rear axle. They add five centimeters (two inches) to the width of the GLK. Custom-tailored rocker panels create a smooth transition between front and rear flares. The rocker panels feature LED lights in their undersides that are activated via the keyless remote or by pulling on a door handle. These lights illuminate the ground next to the SUV for safe entering and exiting the vehicle in the dark.

In the rear the BRABUS roof spoiler reduces aerodynamic lift and thus makes an important contribution to the excellent directional stability of the world’s fastest SUV. The rear appearance of the BRABUS GLK V12 is further characterized by the BRABUS rear apron with its centrally located reflector. Custom-tailored cutouts on the right and left side provide the perfect backdrop for the four characteristically shaped tailpipes of the BRABUS stainless-steel sport exhaust system.

The larger wheel houses of the record car provide space for BRABUS Monoblock wheels up to king-size wheels with a diameter of 22 inches. The size 10Jx22 wheels come in five different designs: GLK V12 customers can choose from the new BRABUS Monoblock G five-spoke forged wheels, three-piece Monoblock VI alloy wheels and one-piece Monoblock E, Q and S wheels. High-performance tires from BRABUS technology partners Pirelli and YOKOHAMA can be mounted up to size 285/25 ZR 22.

The BRABUS coilover sport suspension was developed specifically for the twelve-cylinder SUV. It is height-adjustable on front and rear axle and features ten selectable settings each for bound and rebound.

To handle the extreme performance the brakes were upgraded as well and trimmed for maximum stopping power and endurance. The BRABUS high-performance brakes system features 12-piston aluminum fixed calipers and vented and grooved steel discs measuring 380 x 37 millimeters (15 x 1.5 inches) on the front axle. The rear axle stops on six-piston aluminum fixed calipers and vented and grooved 360 x 28 millimeter (14.2 x 1.1 inches) discs.

The interior of the GLK V12 was also refined to reflect the exclusive character of this unique SUV: The GLK V12 comes with a BRABUS fully leather interior that can be further refined with Alcantara elements if desired. The interior appointments are rounded out with an ergonomically shaped sport steering wheel, a speedometer with 330-km/h (205-mph) scale and stainless-steel scuff plates with illuminated BRABUS WIDESTAR logo.

Further exclusive interior highlights are wood trim sets or carbon-fiber trim panels for dashboard, doors and center console in any color imaginable. Custom-tailored consoles for the backs of the GLK front seats provide the perfect multimedia experience. They each feature an integrated seven-inch LCD screen and a DVD player.