Black Death: meet the world’s fastest SUV

Brabus tunes the Mercedes GLK up to 740bhp and a mighty 211mph. Why, dear lord, why, etc…

Posted by: Sam Philip, 14 December 2009

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Black Death: meet the world’s fastest SU

You are looking at the fastest SUV in the world. Your eyes may hurt.
 
This is the Brabus Bi-Turbo V12 GLK, a massively tuned version of Merc's sort-of-off-roader that's capable of - ready? Sure? OK then - 211mph.
 
211mph. In an SUV. Whichever way you look at that number, it's just... wrong, isn't it?
 
That frankly disturbing pace comes courtesy of Merc's V12, stroked from 5.5 to 6.3 litres and - thanks to the addition of a couple of turbos and plenty of other shiny stuff - putting out 740bhp and 995lb ft of torque. Those are dangerous numbers.
 
The Bi-Turbo GLK will nail the 0-62mph sprint in 4.2 seconds, which might sound (relatively) modest until you consider the sort of gearing required to get an SUV to 211mph. A better indicator of the sheer oomph on tap is that it'll accelerate from standstill to 124mph in just over 12 seconds. Again, those are dangerous numbers.
 
As is this one: 397,000. That's the cost, in Euros, of the Brabus GLK. That's about £360,000 - or around five times the cost of the BMW X5M.
 
Insane? Or genius? Or both? You decide...

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AlKim commented on this article

at 03:59 pm on 14 December 2009

I've seen too many tuned Cayennes, Hummers and X6's to think the Merc is ugly.

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J4KE.H4M commented on this article

at 04:13 pm on 14 December 2009

why? why? oh why oh why oh why? wow 211mph, turn the wheel at that speed & youd do about 211 barrel rolls... 2nd comment yay!

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txalicia1 commented on this article

at 04:49 pm on 14 December 2009

This thing is hideous!!!! Maybe since I'm american, I have a different idea of what an SUV is, but SUVs aren't meant to go 211 mph. This is what you have cars for. SUVs are meant to hold a lot of stuff, drive where there are no roads, and intimidate every small lunchbox-car on the road!

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Roboduck commented on this article

at 04:59 pm on 14 December 2009

Its not the best looking thing out there but 211 mph? Does it come with a year supply of adult diapers too?

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AshD93 commented on this article

at 05:15 pm on 14 December 2009

@ Roboduck I hope it comes with a years supply of fuel as well because the MPG will just be less than a space shuttle :|

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