2023 Brabus S600 W223

And now for something a little more conventional – Brabus’ take on Mercedes’ four-litre V8 biturbo-engined S580 model.

WORDS & IMAGES IAN KUAH

There is no denying that the larger wheels and extensive bodykit, including carbon fibre spoiler and black chrome, give the Brabus S600 L immense presence. The 22-inch Brabus Monoblock Z alloys, shod with 265/30R22 (front) and 305/25R22 (rear) Continental SportContact 6 tyres provide newfound balance to the LWB S-Class’s proportions, and don’t affect ride quality thanks to their one-piece and ultra-light, forged construction. Icing on the cake is a 30mm static ride height drop courtesy of a Brabus suspension module.

Brabus offers ‘S550’ and ‘S600’ engine upgrades for Mercedes’ S580 model, which boost the power and torque of the four-litre, twin-turbo V8. The simpler of the two conversions, the Brabus PowerXtra B40-550 uses a ‘plug and play’ additional ECU supplied with a bespoke wiring harness that fits between the engine and the factory ECU, and optimises the fuelling, ignition and boost maps.

Our long-wheelbase S600-badged test car featured the more potent PowerXtra B40S-600 upgrade for its four-litre V8 biturbo engine, yielding 592bhp (600ps) at 5,700rpm, underpinned by 590lb ft of torque from 2,500 to 4,500rpm. Seriously rapid for a 2.3-tonne limo, the 4.1-second sprint to 62mph shows the effectiveness of the 4Matic system in providing traction off the line.

As this output level is beyond the air flow headroom of the factory turbochargers, Brabus fits a pair of its own turbochargers with larger 52mm diameter turbine wheel with improved blade geometry in a modified scroll housing. The compressor wheel and bearing system that support the turbine shaft are also uprated for higher performance. Two Brabus PowerXtra additional control units are required for this conversion, and come with bespoke plug and play wiring harnesses.

The S600’s enhanced yet still refined thrust adds to the luxury limo’s autobahn-crushing ability, and is perfectly matched to the greater poise through bends. Equally impressive, the S-Class’s secondary ride remains unsullied by the larger wheels and tyres thanks to their relatively low weight.

The Brabus S600 L proves once again that while the world’s largest Mercedes tuner might be a master of big, powerful engines in small cars that can turn rubber into noise and smoke, Brabus can just as expertly tailor a velvet glove around a mailed fist.

Brabus module drops static ride height by 30mm. Upswept display of the standard cabin.