Mercedes Brabus T65 RS Vanish

Mercedes Brabus T65 RS Vanish

Mercedes Brabus T65 RS Vanish

Mercedes Brabus T65 RS Vanish

Mercedes Brabus T65 RS Vanish

INTRODUCTION: A long-time BRABUS customer decided it was time to bring his SL 65 AMG Black Series into the tuning firm to make the car even more aggressive and while this version, known as the VANISH, is a one-off, all components used are available to other customers (so it’s really not a one-off if you think about it).

HIGHLIGHTS:Before Brabus turned its T65 RS Vanish over to its rightful owner, it took the car to Glamor Shots for a round under the lights and here are the results. The former Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series is now a twin-turbo, 800-horsepower brute with 811 pound-feet of electronically limited peak torque – the engine's uncorked potential is 1,047 pound-feet. About the only other limit the Vanish has is top speed: it's capable of 206 miles per hour, but is limited to "only" 200.

SPECIFICATIONS:A BRABUS high-tech twin turbo system that includes two special exhaust manifolds with integrated turbine housings and high-performance turbochargers; four generously dimensioned intercoolers beneath the BRABUS carbon-fiber hood scoop; a BRABUS stainless-steel high-performance exhaust system with free-flow metal catalysts; and newly programmed engine electronics with special mapping for injection and ignition all serve to bump power to 800 hp (788 bhp) / 588 kW at 5,500 rpm and an even more impressive peak torque of 1,420 Nm (1,047 lb-ft), available at 2,100 rpm (peak torque is limited electronically to 1,100 Nm).

2010 Mercedes-Benz Vision S500 Plug-In Hybrid

2010 Mercedes-Benz Vision S500 Plug-In Hybrid

2010 Mercedes-Benz Vision S500 Plug-In Hybrid

2010 Mercedes-Benz Vision S500 Plug-In Hybrid

2010 Mercedes-Benz Vision S500 Plug-In Hybrid

INTRODUCTION:"The Vision 500 Plug-in Hybrid is a new milestone on our path toward zero-emission mobility. It is a luxurious and safe S-class that offeres superior driving performance while at the same time consuming less fuel than current compacts," said Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of Daimler. "All of this shows that our top models will also be able to combine automotive fascination with responsibility for the environment."

HIGHLIGHTS:In order to achieve the astonishing numbers Mercedes is claiming for the Vision S500, it had to seriously increase the size of the car's lithium-ion battery pack. The battery in the S400 Hybrid only holds 0.9 kWh, and is small enough to fit in the engine compartment. The lithium-ion battery in the Vision S500 has a capacity over 10 kWh, and had to be installed in the trunk of the vehicle. With a bigger battery comes a larger weight penalty as well -- the S500's pack weighs around 286 pounds, while the S400's battery tips the scales at 165 pounds.

SPECIFICATIONS:

• The advanced powertrain combines a 3.5-liter V-6 gasoline engine with an electric motor running on lithium-ion batteries. This unique setup will allow the Vision S500 Plug-In Hybrid to travel up to 18.6 miles on electricity alone. A rapid-charge setup allows the car to take a full load of electrons in just 60 minutes, but requires a 20 kilowatt source. A standard household outlet, which supplies closer to 3.3 kilowatts, takes about 4.5 hours to charge the battery.
• When the battery is depleted, the 60-horsepower hybrid module will activate the V-6 engine and allow it to act like a conventional hybrid. A second clutch between the electric motor and combustion engine allows them to operate together or separately.

CONCLUSION: Vision S500 Plug-in Hybrid makes its debut later this month at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the only timetable Mercedes has given for production is to say "it will take some time" to reach consumers.