THE BRABUS XLP 800 6X6 ADVENTURE - BECAUSE APPARENTLY AMG DIDN'T DO ENOUGH.
Some brands don’t just modify cars, they redefine them. BRABUS is one of those brands. The Bottrop-based outfit has been fiddling with Mercedes-Benz machinery for over 45 years, and in that time, they’ve built a reputation for taking already impressive vehicles and cranking every possible dial past eleven. If the OEM Mercedes-AMG badge signals performance pedigree, a BRABUS badge tells you someone’s been under the hood (and bodywork) with a mission: more power, more presence, more “holy hell” moments. So when BRABUS gets its hands on something as absurd as the Mercedes-AMG G63 6x6, you just know the result ain’t subtle. The BRABUS XLP 800 6x6 ADVENTURE is a six-wheeled, portal-axled, leather-lined, horsepower-laden sledgehammer designed to dominate everything from a boulevard to a boulder field. In its original form, the Mercedes-AMG G63 6x6 is already the stuff of legend. Born as a military concept and civilised for a very niche group of customers, it’s a G-Class that’s been stretched, lifted, and given an extra axle just because.
Under the bonnet, it runs a twin-turbocharged 5.5-litre V8 producing a decent 400 kW of power with 760 Nm of torque. That’s hooked up to a 7-speed automatic gearbox, feeding a drivetrain that’s a masterclass in mechanical overkill: portal axles for extra ground clearance, five electronically locking differentials for maximum traction, and a central tire inflation system for on-the-fly adaptability. Only around 100 were ever made, and, cool trivia, about ten of those live right here in South Africa.
Enter BRABUS: The “Not Enough” Department - To turn the G63 6x6 into the XLP 800 6x6 ADVENTURE, BRABUS started with some serious surgery. The steel ladder frame was extended by a whopping 153 centimetres and reinforced with an extremely torsion-resistant steel module - essential when you’re expecting this thing to survive insane loads and off-road contortions. The suspension setup is next-level. All three axles use portal technology, but the front gets independent suspension for improved control. Each axle’s custom-made wheel carriers hide offset gearboxes, bumping ground clearance to a colossal 47 centimetres. If you’re wondering, yes, that’s enough to drive over things most SUVs couldn’t even see past.
As mentioned, the G63’s V8 is potent, but BRABUS doesn’t deal in “enough.” Through finely tuned injection, boost pressure, and ignition maps, the 5.5-litre bi-turbo has been massaged to deliver a brain-melting 588 kW at 6,600 rpm and a truck-pulling 1,000 Nm of torque from just 3,600 rpm. Despite weighing as much as a small moon and wearing chunky off-road tyres, the XLP 800 can launch from 0-100 km/h in just 5.8 seconds. The top speed is electronically limited to 210 km/h - not because it can’t go faster, but because physics starts sending sternly worded emails at that point. BRABUS doesn’t just add power; they make sure the looks match the lunacy. The XLP 800 wears a front apron with a carbon-fibre grille frame and underride guard design, housing a serious winch capable of hauling 4,500 kilograms. Above, a carbon bonnet with a BRABUS power dome and a wind deflector feed air towards the continuous Adventure roof rack, because you never know when you’ll need to strap on a tent, kayak, or satellite dish.
It rolls on BRABUS Monoblock HD forged wheels - 22-inch, 9.5J, eight-hole designs made for heavy-duty portal axle life. They’re as functional as they are imposing, built for maximum strength and load capacity, because when your truck is worth more than most people’s houses, you don’t want to lose a wheel somewhere on the trail. Inside, the XLP 800 is proof that BRABUS hasn’t forgotten about the humans driving it. The cabin is upholstered in the finest black leather, stitched in the brand’s intricate “Dual Cube” pattern, with perforations so perfect they could give a Swiss watchmaker imposter syndrome. Over 200 cockpit elements are finished in “ROCKET RED.” That means the switches, air vents, trim panels, handles, and even the door lock pins pop against the dark leather like the interior of a spaceship designed by a very wealthy Bond villain.
There will always be the question: who actually needs this? And the honest answer is, almost no one. This is not a rational purchase; it’s an ultimate expression of excess, engineering, and individuality. It’s a toy for the kind of person who owns private islands and needs something suitably outrageous to drive across them.
Take a look at the YouTube video from the BRABUS crew that shows off how rad this tweaked version of the monstrous 6x6 AMG. It's a thing that shouldn't exist, but does, and we're thankful for it: BRABUS XLP 800 6x6 ADVENTURE - The Ultimate Luxury Off-Road Pickup | BRABUS
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