Brabus boosts Mercedes-Benz's V8s

German tuner Brabus has introduced some new performance packages for the already quick Mercedes-Benz S- and CL-class cars. They push your standard model into AMG territory and AMG models into the stratosphere.

For the S500 and the CL500, Brabus offers the B50-490 PowerXtra CGI performance kits. The module plugs into the 4.7-liter V8's engine control computer and boosts power to 490 hp, up from 435 hp, and torque to 575 lb-ft. The Brabus B50-490 kit costs $7,190.

If that's not enough go, Brabus offers the B50-520 PowerXtra kit, which takes power to 520 hp and torque to 604 lb-ft. In combination with the Brabus Vmax unit, this bumps top speed to 188 mph. The Brabus B50-520 kit costs $8,658.

Brabus doesn't shy away from the AMG cars. For the S63 and the CL63 not equipped with the performance package, Brabus has the B63-584 performance kit, which upgrades power to--you guessed it--584 hp.

For the upgraded S63 and CL63, the Brabus unit takes power to 620 hp and torque to more than 700 lb-ft. The upgrade cuts 0-to-62-mph times in the coupe and the sedan to just 4.3 seconds with the upgrade. With the Brabus Vmax unit, top speed moves up to the double century mark.

All that power is great. But to really attract attention, order the two-mode exhaust. Only available with the 5.5-liter biturbo engine, the sport exhaust system has a flap that opens with the push of a button. It can be quiet and unobtrusive, according to the company, in "coming home" mode, or all-out throaty when you're leaving in a hurry in sport mode.

By Jake Lingeman