Brabus 900 Rocket Edition Cabrio Is A 900 HP G-Class With No Roof

The Mercedes-AMG G 63 is one of the most powerful and enduring machines of the world. Be it performance, luxury or simply its off-roading capability, there is something about the G-Class that continues to attract buyers. However, folks over at Brabus felt that there’s more to the performance SUV than what we may be looking at.

The Brabus 900 Rocket Edition Cabrio takes the current G 63, removes its fixed roof and replaces it with a bespoke folding roof system before adding a 900 metric horsepower (888 hp) V8, a widened carbon-fiber body and a hand-finished interior.

The result is not simply a G 63 with its roof cut away. Brabus says the conversion required more than 500 newly developed components, including a two-piece soft top engineered to retain the G-Class silhouette and structural integrity. It is also the first open-top car in Brabus' history to carry the company's Rocket name. And speaking about history, this one will surely play a key role in it as Brabus has announced that only 10 examples will ever be made.

Removing The Roof Was The Hard Part

The engine gets most of the attention when a Brabus carries a "900" badge, but turning a G-Class into a convertible requires a far more fundamental intervention. Brabus developed a two-piece electrically operated soft top that can open or close in around 20 seconds. It uses a heated safety-glass rear window and locks into a reinforced windshield frame when closed. A broad carbon-fiber bow forms part of the front section of the roof structure.

Behind the rear doors is a steel roll bar covered in exposed carbon fiber. When the roof is folded, the rear portion disappears behind the back seats and is covered by a dedicated tonneau.

Brabus also subjected the finished cars to more than 10 hours of continuous water testing in a climate chamber. Weather sealing, acoustic insulation and durability were all part of the conversion, rather than being left as secondary concerns after the roof mechanism had been developed. That is a substantial amount of engineering for a body style Mercedes-AMG does not offer in the G-Class range.

A 4.5-Liter V8 Turns The G 63 Into A Rocket

Brabus does not get 900 horsepower from the standard G 63 engine through software alone. The original 3,982-cc twin-turbo V8 is enlarged to 4,407 cc, with the cylinder bores increased to 84 mm and the stroke extended to 100 mm. Forged pistons, high-performance connecting rods and a billet crankshaft form part of the internal changes.

Two larger turbochargers with reinforced bearings produce up to 1.4 bar of boost pressure. The resulting engine develops 900 metric horsepower, equivalent to 888 hp, at 6,200 rpm and 922 lb-ft of torque at 2,900 rpm. Brabus electronically limits torque to 774 lb-ft in the vehicle.

The exhaust system is also part of the package. Its stainless-steel construction uses electronically controlled valves, with Sport mode opening up a more aggressive V8 soundtrack while Coming Home mode keeps things quieter. Blow-off valves add another layer of noise during load changes.

Performance is correspondingly serious. The 900 Rocket Edition Cabrio reaches 60 mph in 3.7 seconds and is electronically limited to 149 mph, with the restriction linked to the tires. Every example uses the same 4.5-liter V8 conversion. There is no lower-output version.

The Chassis Had To Match The Engine

The extra power would make little sense without changes underneath the widened body. Brabus fits 24-inch forged three-spoke wheels with carbon-fiber aerodynamic blades. The front wheels are 10 inches wide and use 295/30 ZR24 tires, while the rear wheels measure 12 inches across and carry 345/25 ZR24 rubber.

An adjustable aluminum coilover suspension replaces the standard setup, allowing the ride height to be lowered by up to 1.8 inches. Damping can be adjusted through the G-Class' existing drive-mode controls.

The body itself is substantially wider than a standard G 63. Exposed carbon fiber appears across the fenders, hood, front and rear fascias, mirror caps, side trim and diffuser. Illuminated exterior elements and LED lighting in the running boards add to the visual overhaul. It is an unusually large wheel-and-tire package for a G-Class, and the widened body gives Brabus the physical space required to accommodate it.

The Interior Is Built Like A Bespoke Car

The cabin is finished in black leather and Alcantara, with quilting extending across the seats, door panels, footwells, luggage compartment and floor mats. The perforated seat centers allow the factory ventilation and heating functions to remain operational.

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Red stitching and piping provide the main contrast, while carbon fiber appears on the steering wheel, shift paddles and pedals. Illuminated entry panels can change color with the ambient lighting. Brabus has also modified the rear-door hinges so the doors open to 90 degrees, improving access to the rear seats.

The shift paddles get LED rev indicators that move from green to yellow and then red as engine speed rises. The speedometer is calibrated to 300 km/h, while the keys are leather-trimmed and supplied with a matching leather travel bag. It is the sort of interior treatment expected from a low-volume Brabus special, but the changes extend beyond leather and trim.

It Even Has A Digital Passport

One of the more unusual features is hidden in the luggage compartment. Each 900 Rocket Edition Cabrio receives a blockchain-based digital product passport integrated into a dedicated identification plate. The system records verified information relating to the car's authenticity, ownership and specification.

For a vehicle being built in a run of only 10 examples, that kind of documentation makes sense. Each car is individually configured rather than simply being one of a large run of identical vehicles.

Price And Availability

Brabus currently lists a 900 Rocket Edition Cabrio exhibition car for €1,020,274.58 including VAT on its official vehicle-sales website. While the listed car is located in Germany, Brabus says it delivers worldwide, but its current sales inventory does not show a U.S.-market 900 Rocket Edition Cabrio. It does list the fixed-roof 900 Rocket Edition in the United States, but it should not be taken as confirmation that the Cabrio is currently allocated for American customers.

For the Cabrio, the confirmed production figure is 10 examples worldwide. At that level, it sits somewhere between a high-performance SUV and a coachbuilt special, with Brabus creating a body style Mercedes-AMG does not offer and building each car around the same bespoke engineering package.