Brabus Mercedes S350 Bluetec ECO PowerXtra D6S kit

Mercedes S350 BlueTEC with Brabus ECO PowerXtra D6S kit

The headline is a bit of a garbled eyeful at first glance. But that’s because although Brabus are pushing their new ECO PowerXtra D6S kit already attached to the Mercedes S350 BlueTEC, it can be attached to any other Mercedes running the same V6 3.0 litre diesel lump – like the Mercedes E350 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY we reviewed recently.

The BRABUS ECO PowerXtra D6S is a stand-alone, plug and play device that is integrated into the CAN data bus of the car, not just a quick flash remap of the ECU. Which probably explains why it’s a lot cleverer than your average mod.

The headlines are that the ECO PowerXtra D6S can chop half a second off the 0-60mph by delivering an increase from 255bhp to 308bhp and from 457 to 509lb/ft of torque. But not all the time.

The D6S also controls the 7G-Tronic ‘box, so that although the extra torque is available in ‘Eco’ mode the extra horses aren’t. Which should, if the extra torque is used with a light touch, actually make the car more economical.

Switch to Normal or Sport modes and you’ll get the full-fat increase of 53bhp as well as the extra wodge of torque, which should make the already reasonably lively S350 or E350 (or even CLS350) feel decidedly brisk.

And if all that isn’t a good enough reason to grab this Brabus upgrade, it also makes the 3.0 litre V6 diesel Euro VI compliant. Which must make this one of the cleanest diesels on the road, cleaning up its emissions to meet standards that don’t even come in until 2014. And all warranted for 62,000 miles.

Brabus will even sell you a stainless-steel sport exhaust system with polished quad tailpipes to make your Brabus-improved Mercedes look a little more sporty.

By Cars UK