Brabus does enjoy reshuffling the deck. Not too long ago, the German tuner took the Mercedes-AMG SL and turned it into something quite unusual — a shooting brake called the Rocket GTS. It looked like a sports car trying on clown shoes, but it worked in a very Brabus way.
Now, the roof is gone once more. The Rocket GTS has morphed back into a convertible, officially called the Rocket GTC, and it was revealed at Monterey Car Week. Brabus has chosen to describe it as a “hyper gran turismo cabrio,” which sounds faintly confusing, though nobody can accuse them of lacking ambition.
More Power Than You’ll Ever Need
The base for this car is the AMG SL63 S E Performance, which already produces 805 bhp. Brabus, however, has never been content with simply enough. The twin-turbocharged V8 has been bored out to 4.5 litres, raising the total to 986 bhp. Torque figures are equally eye-watering at 1,820 Nm, though this has been electronically capped at 1,620 Nm. The reason? To prevent the drivetrain from turning itself into very expensive shrapnel.
The result is a car that can accelerate from 0 to 100 kmph in just 2.6 seconds. Top speed has not been formally quoted, but it is safe to assume it will be north of 320 kmph, depending on whether your courage lasts longer than the fuel tank.
Carbon Everywhere
Brabus does not simply tune engines and leave them there. The body of the Rocket GTC has been reskinned almost entirely in carbon fibre, with wide arches, deep bumpers, and enough intakes to ventilate a small apartment. A ducktail spoiler sits proudly at the rear, because subtlety has no place here.
The wheels are equally dramatic. Forged centre-lock five-spokes with carbon aero blades, measuring 21 inches at the front and 22 at the rear, fill the arches to bursting point. A stainless steel exhaust system provides the soundtrack, which should 986 bhp somehow feel underwhelming without an appropriate noise.
Inside the Rocket
Brabus interiors are rarely understated, and this one is no different. Almost every surface is wrapped in red leather, from the seats to the dashboard. Even the floor mats have been treated to a leather finish, although one might feel slightly awkward treading on something so glossy in wet shoes.
The Point of It All
Is there a logical reason for this car to exist? Possibly not. Yet that has never stopped Brabus before, and it is not likely to now. The Rocket GTC is not simply about numbers or practicality. It is about presence, theatre, and the idea that someone, somewhere, wanted their convertible to outgun most hypercars.
So here it is — a convertible that began life as a convertible, became a shooting brake, and has now returned to its natural state. Only now it has nearly a thousand horsepower and enough carbon fibre to keep an F1 team busy.
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