Brabus Rocket History

Sports sedan · 2006–present

History

The Brabus Rocket debuted in 2006 as a small-series production car built on the Mercedes-Benz CLS (W219) platform. Its 6.2-litre twin-turbocharged V12 produced 730 PS (720 hp) and enabled a top-speed run of 362.4 km/h at the Nardò Ring in June 2006 — a new world record for any street-legal saloon.

In October 2006, Brabus returned to Nardò under TÜV Süd supervision and raised the record to 365.7 km/h (227.2 mph), cementing the Rocket's place in automotive history. The car sold for €348,000.

The line continued with the Rocket 800 (2011, Frankfurt Motor Show), based on the second-generation CLS (C218) and upgraded to 800 PS / 789 hp with a claimed top speed of 370 km/h. The Rocket 900 (2015) moved to the Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG platform with a 900 PS V12 and a 0–100 km/h time of 3.7 seconds. A later 'ONE OF TEN' edition (2020) switched to the AMG GT 63 S platform with a 4.4-litre V8 biturbo producing 900 PS, achieving 0–100 km/h in 2.8 seconds.

Generations

First generation · Rocket (W219 CLS) (2006–2010)

Photo: “Brabus Rocket” by User Markus.martin2003 on de.wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons , licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 . Cropped to 16:9.

6.2L V12 twin-turbo, 730 PS; set the street-legal sedan world speed record of 365.7 km/h at Nardò in 2006.
Second generation · Rocket 800 (C218 CLS) (2011–2014)

Photo: “Brabus Rocket 800 (C218)” by Matti Blume ( MB-one ) / Wikimedia Commons , licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 . Cropped to 16:9.

Frankfurt 2011 reveal; V12 twin-turbo raised to 800 PS / 789 hp, top speed 370 km/h.
- 2011
  Photo: “Brabus Rocket 800 (C218)” by Matti Blume ( MB-one ) / Wikimedia Commons , licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 . Cropped to 16:9.
Third generation · Rocket 900 (S65-based) (2015–2019)

Photo: “Brabus 900 Cabriolet IMG 0555” by Alexander Migl / Wikimedia Commons , licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 . Cropped to 16:9.

S65 AMG base; M279 V12 pushed to 900 PS, 0–100 km/h in 3.7 s, priced at €347,719.
- 2015
  Photo: “Brabus Rocket 900, 2015 (Mercedes S-Klasse V12 6.3)” by Falcon® Photography / Wikimedia Commons , licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 . Cropped to 16:9.
Fourth generation · Rocket 900 'ONE OF TEN' (AMG GT 63 S) (2020–present)

AMG GT 63 S 4-door base; 4.4L V8 biturbo producing 900 PS, 0–100 km/h in 2.8 s, limited to 10 units.