BRABUS Reveals High Power 800 Adventure XLP Mercedes G-Class

It’s strange isn’t it, the need to develop ever more modern vehicles that are aerodynamically able to squeeze the most out of a full tank of fuel continues, yet the allure of the boxy Land Rover style 4×4 never goes away. The Mercedes G-Class is such a vehicle, not pressured by the low and sleek, the G-Class (or G-Wagen) manages to remain an effortlessly modern and desirable SUV after more than 40 years. It’s testament to the relevancy of such a vehicle in 2020, when a company like BRABUS decides to sprinkle its magic into the design.

BRABUS has a history as long as that of the G-Class; restoring classic Mercedes Benz vehicles – their ‘Six-Star Restoration’ programme – as well as adapting and customising existing vehicles. The latest BRABUS to appear is the 800 Adventure XLP Mercedes G-Class.

BRABUS has turned an already fine vehicle into a high performance SUV. The donor model is a Mercedes AMG G63, with the wheelbase extended by 50cm to incorporate the addition of a pick-up bed added at the rear. The extra length manages to avoid the reduction of interior space. As you might expect, messing the dimensions of a vehicle can play havoc with the ride and suspension, BRABUS has avoided this by developing portal axles and suspension unique to the project. The result is great handling and ground clearance of 49cm.

Inside, you get all the luxury you would expect from a Mercedes G-Class – the pictures show the BRABUS ‘burned oak’ leather seating from the BRABUS upholstery shop, which is able to fine-tune the interior to personal tastes.

Under the hood you will find a 4-litre twin turbo V8 engine spec’d with BRABUS’ own 800 PowerXtra+. The result is impressive: 789bhp and 999Nm of torque is going to cope with most conditions thrown at the Adventure XLP. 0-62mph is achieved in an impressive 4.8 seconds, though rather sensibly top speed is limited to 130mph, which reflects the more traditional box shape of the AMG G63 and its high centre of gravity. BRABUS call this a supercar, and you can see why.

The downside of such a high performance vehicle is that it will tend to fly in the face of fashion and current trends – this isn’t a vehicle to use to impress the neighbours with your green credentials. Even ignoring current trends in automotive design, the BRABUS Mercedes 800 Adventure XLP figures won’t impress, offering a meagre 20mpg (combined) and a CO² figure of 345g/km.

The pick-up bed has the optional ability to incorporate a take off/landing module for the Wingcopter – a high performance 150mph drone that can transport rescue equipment and aid supplies over a distance of 75 miles; something to consider when you’ve run out of fuel on the M25 perhaps.

The BRABUS 800 Adventure XLP Mercedes is available in a limited First Edition with the aforementioned burned oak leather interior. The First Edition will set you back from £395,766 – if you require the additional Wingcopter, then expect to pay around £677,312. All in all, this is of course a unique specialist vehicle, but one that looks very very nice indeed.