2008 Brabus Widestar Mercedes-Benz GL

(from Brabus Press Release)  Muscular fender flares front and back, giant 23-inch wheels and a striking face with large air dams and four auxiliary headlights: In a world premiere BRABUS (www.brabus.com) presents the 2007 WIDESTAR wide version for the Mercedes GL-class at the Frankfurt International Auto Show IAA 2007.

The elegant sweeping lines of the fender flares add five centimeters (two inches) to the width of the large SUV. The corresponding rocker panels have more than just visual effect; they also facilitate entering and exiting of the vehicle in the dark with their integrated entrance lights.

The BRABUS WIDESTAR front apron maximizes the supply of cooling air for radiators and front brakes. It also improves active safety with auxiliary high beams and fog lamps as well as by reducing aerodynamic lift.

The rear of the WIDESTAR is characterized by a roof spoiler and a rear apron custom-tailored to the wider fenders. The diffuser integrated into the bumper and the precise-fit cutouts for the four tailpipes of the BRABUS stainless-steel sport exhaust system document loving attention to detail.

All BRABUS body components are manufactured from Pur-R-Rim in OEM quality, guaranteeing optimal precise fit and ensuring that the components are easy to paint.

The BRABUS WIDESTAR also creates space for extreme tire sizes. The most exclusive version features three-piece BRABUS Monoblock E 11Jx23 wheels. These nine-spoke wheels have a forged, highly polished drop center and can be fitted with Pirelli or YOKOHAMA high-performance street tires up to size 305/35 R 23.

The BRABUS WIDESTAR can also be equipped with forged 21-inch Monoblock VI wheels or 22-inch wheels from the Monoblock VI, E or S design families.

The wide version looks best in combination with ride-height lowering. BRABUS lowers the GL-class by some 30 millimeters (1.18 inches) with a custom module for the AIRMATIC air suspension. This measure benefits the vehicles overall appearance and further improves safe and sporty on-road handling by lowering the center of gravity.

For further improved active safety BRABUS offers various versions of its high-performance brake systems. The largest version features 12-piston aluminum fixed calipers and vented and cross-drilled 380 x 36 millimeter (15.0 x 1.42 inches) discs on the front axle. The rear axle is fitted with six-piston fixed calipers.

The powerful stance of the WIDESTAR all but demands a more powerful engine. BRABUS offers performance tuning for all GL models. The one-of-kind BRABUS Tuning Warranty of three years, up to 100,000 kilometers (see BRABUS warranty conditions as of November 2006) also covers all engine conversions.

BRABUS Power Xtra tuning kits are available for the especially popular common-rail turbodiesel engines. They produce more power while at the same time meeting stringent Euro IV emission limits.

The BRABUS D6 (III) module increases maximum power output of the GL 320 CDI to 272 PS (268 hp) / 200 kW and a peak torque of 590 Nm (435 lb-ft) at just 1,600 rpm.

Equipped with BRABUS PowerXtra D8 (III) tuning, rated power output of the GL 420 CDI jumps from standard 306 PS (302 hp) / 225 kW to 350 PS (345 hp) / 257 kW at just 3,800 rpm. Simultaneously peak torque grows from 700 Nm to 800 Nm (516 to 590 lb-ft). Performance is on a correspondingly high level: The BRABUS-tuned GL 420 CDI sprints from 0 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 7.1 seconds, half a second faster than the production car. Top speed grows from 230 to 240 km/h (143 to 149 mph).

For the V8 gasoline models GL 450 and GL 500 BRABUS offers its 6.1 displacement engine as the most powerful version. It delivers 462 PS (456 hp) / 340 kW of power and a peak torque of 615 Nm (454 lb-ft). Equipped with this engine the 4x4 accelerates from 0 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 6.0 seconds and reaches a top speed of 255 km/h (158 mph).

All BRABUS engines are lubricated exclusively with ARAL high-performance motor oil.

Individual exclusivity is also the guiding BRABUS principle when it comes to customizing the GL-class interior. The company-own upholstery shop transforms customers individual selections into masterfully crafted fully leather interiors made from especially soft and breathable Mastik and Alcantara leathers.

The BRABUS product lineup further includes numerous attractive cockpit accessories. They range from stainless-steel scuff plates with illuminated BRABUS logo to sporty aluminum components such as foot pedals and door-lock pins to an ergonomically shaped sport steering wheel.

Multimedia on wheels is yet another BRABUS specialty. Custom-built seat consoles for the back of the front seats house a seven-inch LCD screen and a DVD player. These consoles are also available with an integrated powered tabletop.

The multimedia package can be expanded further with larger screens that deploy from the headliner, with an on-board computer with Internet connectivity, and with an MP3 player that stores more than 5,000 songs.