If you want a new Mercedes-Benz convertible, your options include the CLE Cabriolet, AMG SL Roadster, and Maybach SL Roadster. All are classy and luxurious, with some leaning more into luxury and others being mighty sports cars. What none of them are is an off-roader, and that’s where a new pair of absurd Brabus cabriolets come in.
Based on the Mercedes-AMG G63, the new Brabus 800 Cabrio and Brabus XL 800 Cabrio answer a question nobody asked, by combining open-air motoring with off-roading capabilities and high-end luxury. But coming up with the unthinkable is nothing new for the Mercedes tuner, is it?
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One For The Street and Another For The Trail
Brabus 800 Cabrio
Both Brabus creations have the tall, boxy stance that’s typical of the G-Class, but you can lower the two-piece soft top in just 20 seconds at the press of a button, completely changing the profile. A heated safety-glass rear window keeps everyone inside comfortable when the roof is closed. According to Brabus, the “highly complex” soft-top system consists of over 500 custom-made components.
The 800 features high-gloss sealed carbon fiber everywhere you look, enlarged air intakes, a front spoiler, and massive 24-inch Monoblock ZM Platinum Edition forged wheels wrapped in high-performance tires. Height-adjustable sport springs allow lowering of the suspension by either 0.8 or 1.6 inches to improve handling and on-road feel.
The XL 800 Cabrio seen here has a Pale Brown color, but it’s immediately obvious that this is the more rugged version. It has a portal-axle suspension and a CNC-milled portal gearbox that lowers the hub position by 5.9 inches. Smaller 22-inch forged wheels are wrapped in more practical all-terrain tires, and the suspension allows for an incredible 18.9 inches of ground clearance—5.8 inches more than a Ford Bronco Raptor.
Both SUVs have a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 producing 788 horsepower (800 metric horsepower, hence the ‘800’ name) and 737 lb-ft of torque. The 800 can hit 62 mph (100 km/h) in four seconds, while the off-road-optimized XL 800 needs 4.6 seconds. Power goes to all four wheels via a nine-speed automatic.
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Interior Craftsmanship at its Finest
Brabus 800 Cabrio
Both SUVs have stunning interiors with high-quality materials and plenty of tech. In the 800, Oxford Sand and Cairos Brown leather cover almost everything, while the Airscarf neck-heating system found on normal Mercedes convertibles is equipped here, too.
“Shell” door panel quilting and a similar pattern on the floor are particularly plush, and even the trunk is finished entirely in leather. Dual digital displays ahead of the driver take care of important driving and infotainment functions.
The XL 800 goes for a more eye-catching Ravion Red leather interior with numerous carbon components, such as the shift paddles, pedal pads, and handles.
Brabus will only manufacture 50 examples of each 800, and the cost is enormous. Prices start at 761,500 Euros (around $879,000) for the normal 800 and go up to 887,600 Euros (about $1.02 million) for the XL 800—with further customization, expect those prices to go up even more.
