Frankfurt 2009: Brabus E V12 Black Baron is where light goes to die
by Chris Paukert on Sep 16th 2009 at 12:58PM 
Brabus E V12 Black Baron -- Click above for high-res image gallery
Fancy yourself as a real-life Bruce Wayne with the financial wherewithal to match? Have we got a workaday sedan for you. German tunemeisters Brabus have just lifted the sheet off their new E V12 Black Baron sedan, although we almost didn't notice, as the matte-black überBenz swallows all beams of light that dare go near its carbon fiber flanks.
Packing a twin-turbo'd 6.3-liter V12, this one-of-ten wonder spits out a tidy 800 horsepower and 1,047 pound-feet of torque (no, that's not a typo). So equipped, Brabus says the demon tweaked E-Class will lunge to 62 mph in 3.7 seconds and hit 124 mph in a sliver under ten ticks. Thanks to the axe murderer of a powerplant underhood and the aerodynamic-at-all-costs design, the Black Baron will reportedly top out at 230 mph – and when operated at saner speeds, it still manages to return 15 mpg. Won't your neighbors be pleased.
What price for Gotham glory? Check out our high-res gallery below and then check with your financial adviser about cutting a slush fund check for $875,000.
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Gallery: Brabus E V12 Black Baron
[Source: Brabus]
PRESS RELEASE:
Brabus has unveiled the limited edition E V12 sedan, "The Black Baron".
Based on the new 2010 Mercedes E-Class W 212, the E V12 features a 6.0-liter V12 biturbo bored out to 6.3-liters producing 800 hp and 1420 Nm of torque (it's electronically limited to 1,100 Nm). While details are limited, Brabus outfitted the engine with a ram-air system, a quad-exhaust, and revised engine electronics.
To keep the beast under control, the company added a fully adjustable sports suspension, new stabilizers, a high performance braking system, and black 19-inch alloy wheels outfitted with 255/35 (front) and 285/35 (rear) tires.
In terms of styling, Brabus made major modifications to improve aerodynamics, engine ventilation, and brake cooling. Changes include a revised front bumper, new front quarter panels, aggressive side sills, and rear wheel covers. Out back, the car features a trunk-mounted spoiler and a carbon fiber rear diffuser.
Thanks to all these tweaks, the E V12 rockets from 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.7 seconds, 0-200 km/h (124 mph) in 9.9 seconds, and 0-300 km/h (186 mph) in 23.9 seconds. If you keep your foot planted, the car will eventually top out at an electronically limited 350 km/h (217 mph). Without the limiter, Brabus estimates the car can hit a top speed in excess of 370 km/h (230 mph). Fuel consumption is rated at 15.7L/100km (15 mpg), while CO2 emissions are 372 g/km.
Inside, the car features black leather upholstery, an Alcantara headliner, carbon fiber trim, and a 400 km/h (249 mph) speedometer.
Production will be limited to ten units, and prices start at €600,000 ($875,000 USD).
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Shiftright 1:04PM (9/16/2009)
So Brabus is now going back to Cadillacs of the 80's for styling inspiration? JC Whitney fender skirts? Are you kidding me? Another abomination for those whose taste is inversely proportional to their wealth. Also, the new E-Class mini lights flanking the grill really bug me. They look awkward and aftermarket somehow, or at times, fangs.
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Other Man 2:24PM (9/16/2009)
I agree. But if they're only building ten of these, maybe the "regular" EV12 Brabus will sell won't have the discusting rear wheel dealio going on and the tacky wing spoiler.
Maybe?
Swede 1:05PM (9/16/2009)
That's possibly the most obnoxious car ever.
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Quantumphysics 2:57PM (9/16/2009)
I don't like black matte paint jobs on anything. I love the new E-class but I'd rather have the non-super performance version that keeps the V12 but drops the excessive body cladding.
After all I don't need to go faster than 100 mph since I'm not interested in dying or getting expensive tickets, or losing my license... but, I'm mostly interested in 4 second 0 -60 times.
yacoub 1:05PM (9/16/2009)
That rear wheelwell cover completely ruins any chance that car has of looking good.
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LoneWolf 2:47PM (9/16/2009)
+1
mk3 5:14PM (9/16/2009)
Yes what's the story with that...thing
fmwso 9:14PM (9/16/2009)
That's so true, those wheel covers are horrible.
mad matt 6:14AM (9/22/2009)
+1. I wonder what the CEO thought of those when the designer showed them to him. Actually, I wonder what the designer was smoking when he put them on the car.. Such a waste.
K4Lic0 1:06PM (9/16/2009)
Why is there gaffer's tape over the back wheels?
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mktnb 1:08PM (9/16/2009)
**BEST** headline of the week.
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jaynick2011 1:08PM (9/16/2009)
Call me more of an old in terms of taste of cars (I am still a college student), but I loved early MBs and Bmrs and other European cars of this century. Now it seems like trend is inverting in the US, where companies like Ford are coming up with more kinetic linear type of designs. And Europeans (which used be know to me for it's sturdiness) is approaching more non-linear designs, I hate new era germans and italians.
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tmiller1812 5:12PM (9/16/2009)
Brother, you said it better than anyone yet...
jaynick2011 5:38PM (9/16/2009)
I wish there was a way to explain my feeling to those German & Italian car execs and their designers.
Emu* 1:24PM (9/16/2009)
Typo alert: 320mph??? Someone needs a proofreader.
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skablaw 1:26PM (9/16/2009)
The list of cars to buy before this is too long and too obvious to this blog's readers to merrit repeating here. What is the point? I'm desperately trying to comprehend what value this has in the automotive world, or what objective was in mind when it was created. Time will tell, but I can't even imagine the tasteless money-pissing sheiks of the Middle East shelling out an S-class short of $1mil for this prop-regect from Batman Forever.
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RITmusic2k 1:32PM (9/16/2009)
You know what? I'll settle for a 220mph top speed in order to get rid of those rear wheel skirts.
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Dan 1:37PM (9/16/2009)
I hope someone gets fired.
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Justin 2:14PM (9/16/2009)
Someone did get fired, just not from Brabus. A green czar just did from the Obama administration.
Taglane 1:41PM (9/16/2009)
Can I get covers the front wheels? I want me a spaceship.
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