TUNNING

Brabus Bodo

What happens when you follow your dream, your passion, your ambition – and you absolutely refuse to let anyone or anything stand in your way? This story begins with one person. With one man who saw possibility where others saw limits. That man was Bodo Buschmann. Today, his name is being honored by Brabus bringing his vision to life. And, of course, this creation can only bear one name: Bodo.

49 years after its founding in Bottrop in 1977, Brabus is finally presenting its first in-house production car: Bodo. A name that pays homage to its founder, Bodo Buschmann.

Built to honor a legacy much bigger than performance. This is a story of obsession. Of pressure. Of legacy. Of building something timeless. From the hand-crafted carbon fiber bodywork to the engineering behind the rear-wheel drive V12 platform.

A Grand Tourer with a 1,000 hp 5.2-liter V12 twin-turbo engine, capable of 360 km/h, which took Konstantin Busman and his team almost 10 years to develop.

This sophisticated powertrain produces a maximum performance of 735 kW/1,000 hp at 6,400 rpm, as well as a maximum torque of 1,200 Nm. From a standstill, the 2+2-seater accelerates to 100 km/h in just 3.0 seconds. Top speed is electronically limited to 360 km/h.

The bespoke body is entirely carbon fibre (black), slung over an aluminium chassis (probably painted black, though you can’t see it). Most of the interior is carbon fibre (black). The wheels are black. Some of the engine elements (airboxes and the front of the cam covers) are black carbon fibre, and have actual real gold freckles impregnated into the weave for no other reason than it looks cool, the kind of nonsensical detail that makes absolute sense. The interior is baby blue. Sorry, black. You get the idea.

The engine lives under the acreage of bonnet, stuffed so far back in the chassis that cylinder 11 looks as if it should warm your right knee, and consists of a 5.2-litre, twin-turbo V12 developing that headline 1,000hp and 885lb ft, providing a 0-62mph time in the low-threes for a car that weighs 1,910kg. Top speed is 224mph, enough to see off quite a few notionally faster supercars. And yet it’s a 2+2 (‘ish’, there’s not much human-sized room back there) with a boot, big, comfortable front seats and enough street presence to make the Batmobile look like a Cozy Coupe. An old-school, full-fat, rear-wheel drive V12 GT in a world that seems increasingly populated with low-calorie, efficient fast cars. There’s nothing wrong with an electrically-assisted V6 with big power, but a turbo V12 it ‘ain’t.

The Bodo isn’t a completely clean sheet, though. If some of the elements sound familiar, that’s because this car is the wayward son of an Aston Martin Vanquish - you can see it in the profile of the glass - re-worked from new. But the big Brabus gets a more menacing, squarer front end with a vented bonnet, the same tight windowline and an almost boat-tail rear that drops away to knee height. A rear that incorporates a pop-up spoiler in the almost 911-ish rear aero. But it’s the profile that’ll get you. It’s concept car exceptional, hunkered over 21in multi-spoke, dished Monoblocks with bespoke Continental tyres, reminiscent of the Mercedes Maybach Vision 6 (remember that?) or even the Maybach Excelero of 2005. Both leggy, low and slinky, outrageous concepts that have an almost gothic sense of occasion. A sense of theatre that the Bodo revels in.

Complementing its low, wide stance, the Bodo rides on 21-inch concave Brabus Monoblock Z-GT “Shadow Edition” forged wheels, equipped with high-performance Continental SportContact 7 Force tires in size 275/35 ZR 21, developed exclusively for the Brabus Bodo. On the rear axle, 325/30 ZR 21 tires ensure optimal grip for the rear wheels and outstanding lateral stability during fast cornering.

In pursuit of the goal of reaching a top speed of 360 km/h, the entire body is constructed from high-strength carbon fiber with a focus on aerodynamic efficiency. The front is defined by unique LED matrix headlights and a striking radiator grille with a total of 13 vertical slats. At higher speeds, the rear spoiler automatically extends in multiple stages and continuously adjusts its position to the aerodynamic requirements.

That feels like what we’re seeing here - Brabus seeding the idea of change. Brabus has gone from a small ‘tuner’ dealership incorporated in 1977 to a large, well-resourced outfit that does big business with OEMs like Smart, tuning, modifying and refining various marques, from Porsches to Range Rovers, as well as its mainstay of ‘Benz products. That varies from a 900bhp S-Class with minimal external warning signs (usually black, natch), to peach-coloured Rangies on 23s. The GTS Coupe and Bodo elevate that idea to the idea of a fully coachbuilt vehicle, which in turn might beget a fully independent project. Indeed, Brabus actually produces its own chassis for the off-road only Brabus Crawler, even if the drivetrain is sourced from a G63.

The Bodo is the current star, mind. Even though it sounds faintly ridiculous, a million euros for a car that is likely to only ever run to 77 units (in honour of Brabus’ birth year), that looks this spectacular and is based on the proven mechanicals of a not-inexpensive GT, isn’t actually that much. Especially for a car that comes with a cast-iron guarantee; wherever you turn up, jaws are going to drop.

In keeping with the “Piano Black” exterior finish, the cabin is upholstered in smooth black leather and contrasting black Nubuck leather, highlighted by a selection of carbon fiber elements.

The “77” logo placed below the rear window commemorates 1977, the year Bodo Buschmann founded Brabus.

Production is therefore limited to 77 units, with an annual production volume of between 10 and 15 vehicles.

Prices start at 1,152,800 euros...

Autonews