BRABUS: High-End Tuning and Lifestyle for Mercedes-Benz and smart Automobiles

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High-end tuning and lifestyle for Mercedes-Benz and smart automobiles is the domain of BRABUS. In 2012 BRABUS celebrates its 35th anniversary. The world-renowned tuner and car manufacturer offers individualized options to satisfy every wish. The BRABUS product lineup ranges from powerful tuned engines and elegantly styled aerodynamic-enhancement kits to high-quality alloy wheels, dynamic yet comfortable sport suspensions and exquisitely luxurious interiors handcrafted to perfection.

BRABUS uses the most exacting standards for the development and testing of its tuning parts – and stands behind them 100 percent: all BRABUS components – including all performance kits and high-capacity engines – are covered by the unique BRABUS Tuning Warranty? of three years, up to 100,000 kilometers or 62,000 miles (see BRABUS Warranty Terms and Conditions, updated November 2006).

BRABUS is also one of the world’s most exclusive manufacturers of automobiles: holding this status with the German Federal Department of Motor Vehicles (Kraftfahrtbundesamt) in Flensburg, the company builds such exciting high-performance vehicles like the BRABUS ROCKET 800. The new supercar is based on the second generation of the Mercedes CLS-Class, is powered by an engine producing 588 kW / 800 hp (788 bhp) and reaches a top speed in excess of 370 km/h (230 mph).

These activities are honored by the media and the general public as well. The reader poll “Die besten Autos - BEST CARS 2012,” conducted by Germany’s leading automobile magazine ‘auto motor und sport,’ saw BRABUS win for the seventh consecutive time by a large margin. 52.0 percent of respondents voted for BRABUS as the ‘BEST BRAND 2012’ in the “Tuner” category.

BRABUS was founded in 1977 by Bodo Buschmann and has since grown into the world’s largest independent tuner of automobiles. BRABUS headquarters are located in Bottrop in the heart of the Ruhr Valley, directly adjacent to the A2 autobahn. In addition to spacious showrooms the facility also houses the marketing and sales division, administration, the R&D department as well as the production plant of the globally operating company.

An expansion of the BRABUS production and administration building on the 112,000-square meter (1.2 million square foot) grounds on BRABUS Allee was completed in the summer of 1999. In early 2013 BRABUS will start up operations in the new Plant 3 in Bottrop that will add 5,000 square meters (54,000 square feet) to the production floor.

BRABUS high-performance engines are developed with the help of state-of-the-art test benches in the company-own development center. The engine-building shop features the latest machines to create a level of vertical manufacturing integration that is unique in this industry. Vehicle customization and service work is done at 85 high-tech workstations. Cutting-edge computer technology is used to manage the 105,000-cubic-meter (3.7 million cubic foot) storage facility to guarantee speedy delivery of BRABUS parts to places all over the world.

Most testing is carried out at the BRABUS test track, which features acceleration and braking tracks, sine curves, a skid pad, a certified noise-measuring track and a shake track with Belgian block cobblestone.

New products are continuously scrutinized in extensive testing programs. BRABUS places great emphasis on continuous, strict quality inspections of all its products. BRABUS is quality certified in accordance with DIN EN ISO 9001 : 2000 standards.

BRABUS also places high demands on its suppliers, working only with respected OE manufacturers like MOTUL, BILSTEIN, Continental, Pirelli and YOKOHAMA as its technology partners.

The high quality demands BRABUS places on its own developments, products and services are also recognized by its peers in the automotive industry. In a joint venture with smart GmbH BRABUS founded smart-BRABUS GmbH in 2002. In the fall of 2003 the company moved into the new 11,000-m² (118,000 square foot) plant in Bottrop, where an exclusive accessories program for all smart models as well the top-of-the-line models for all smart model series are developed and manufactured.

Maximum eco-friendliness is at the forefront of all BRABUS developments: BRABUS-tuned engines always offer good fuel efficiency and always remain well below legally prescribed emission limits. BRABUS presented the world’s first tuned car to meet the new EURO VI emission standards in January 2011. The Mercedes S 350 BlueTEC gains 40.5 kW / 55 hp (54 bhp) with BRABUS ECO PowerXtra D6S performance tuning, and produces a peak torque of 690 Nm (509 lb-ft). This tuning kit makes BRABUS the first tuner to meet the strict EURO VI emission standards, which won’t go into effect until 2014. During emission testing required for homologation the S 350 BlueTEC with BRABUS ECO PowerXtra D6S tuning remained 30 percent below the EURO VI limits.

Better diesel fuel economy through professional tuning is yet another strength of BRABUS. A Mercedes ML320 CDI equipped with BRABUS ECO PowerXtra® D6 (III) tuning consumed more than one liter less fuel per 100 kilometers than the non-tuned production car in a test conducted by the German TV news network n-tv.

All these developments contribute significantly to the low average CO2 emissions of all BRABUS vehicles of just 151 g/km (updated September 2011).

The BRABUS ZERO EMISSION business division deals with ecofriendly technologies. The result is not just an exclusive customization program for the TESLA Roadster, the world’s first electrically powered production sports car.

BRABUS is also committed to being the “engine” of the InnovationCity Bottrop, the home of the company. The city in the heart of the Ruhr Valley won a 2011 contest held in the entire Ruhr region. The contest’s objective is to reduce carbon-dioxide emissions, to further improve energy efficiency and to implement measures of climate protection. BRABUS supports this initiative with the development of ecofriendly vehicle concepts with combustion engines, hybrid and electric drives.

BRABUS ZERO EMISSION cooperates with energy provider RWE on the development of electric vehicles.

At the 2012 ESSEN MOTOR SHOW BRABUS presents numerous world premieres. They include exclusive customization programs for the new Mercedes-Benz A-Class, CLS Shooting Brake and GL-Class as well as spectacular high-performance automobiles such as the BRABUS B63 - 620 WIDESTAR, the exclusive power off-roader based on the Mercedes G 63 AMG, and the BRABUS B50-500 Coupe based on the Mercedes E-Class.

BRABUS offers its sales partners around the globe a strong partnership. In the US and Canada BRABUS is present with its own subsidiary, BRABUS USA LP, which moved into a new, even larger tuning center in Irvine, California, in November 2010.

Since spring 2011 the company has also had a wholly owned branch in the Middle East, BRABUS Middle East LLC. As befits BRABUS, this is not just a sales office as is the case for other tuning companies, but a full-fledged tuning operation with state-of-the-art workshop, upholstery shop and logistics center. BRABUS Middle East is located in downtown Dubai in direct vicinity of Sheikh Zayed Road, one of the most important traffic arteries of the United Emirates.

With its partner PANG DA Automobile Trade Group BRABUS is already present with a branch in 32 Chinese cities. In addition to the first BRABUS Flagship Store, which will open in Beijing in 2013, the Chinese sales network will be expanded to 42 branches shortly.

Currently the BRABUS network of authorized dealers and service partners extends to 106 countries around the globe. BRABUS is also innovative on the internet: a special BRABUS app has been available for iPhone and iPad since mid-2011. The BRABUS CAR CONFIGURATOR on the BRABUS website lets prospective buyers virtually configure their personal dream cars.

~ Official photo and details courtesy of BRABUS GmbH ~

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