Brabus tunes up the Mercedes-Benz CL and an S-class

Brabus, tuner of all things Mercedes-Benz, has set its engineers loose on the all-wheel-drive Mercedes-Benz CL and S500 models for the winter.

The tuners add power, remove the standard speed limiter and add a custom exterior package. Both cars will be on the Brabus stand at the Essen Motor Show, which is like the SEMA of Germany.

The standard engine for the CL and the S500 is the 435-hp, 4.7-liter V8. The Brabus B50-490 engine tuning integrates the company's PowerXtra module, which remaps the ignition and the electronic boost-pressure control. Output jumps to 490 hp and peak torque goes to 575 lb-ft. The B50-520 package adds the same stuff, but the result is 520 hp and 604 lb-ft of torque.

When combined with the B50-520 kit, the Brabus Vmax unit gets rid of the 155-mph speed limiter and moves it up to 186 mph. That also necessitates the installation of a Brabus speedometer with a 220-mph dial.

For the eardrums, the company adds a stainless-steel exhaust system with a butterfly valve and quad tailpipes with a sportier exhaust note that, according to the company, isn't loud enough to be intrusive.

As far as aerodynamic improvements go, Brabus has a kit for the non-AMG 2011 Mercedes CL-class. It includes a front spoiler designed in the wind tunnel, stylized air vents in the new side skirts, a new rear fascia and a spoiler.

The company also offers custom wheels between 18 inches and 22 inches in size, with Continental, Pirelli or Yokohama snow tires. To match the low-profile tires, a lowering module for the standard suspension is added that drops the car about one inch. High-performance, six-piston brakes are clamped on cross-drilled rotors measuring 16 inches in front and 15 inches in back.

Brabus also offers a host of interior upgrades using wood grain, carbon fiber and Alcantara. A custom tailored multimedia system can also be ordered.

By Jake Lingeman