1,000 hp AMG Hypercar and 900 hp Brabus SL to Debut in Frankfurt

If you want a near 1,000 hp Mercedes-AMG, the International Motor Show at the end of this month in Frankfurt, Germany will give you a couple of choices. One from the factory that's nearly a Formula 1 car, and one from a famous tuning company that lets you bring three friends.

The Mercedes-AMG Project One is a two-seat hypercar flagship. It will have an F1-style hybrid powertrain for the road. The electric and gas combination will offer "more than 1,000 hp." Mercedes-AMG has been teasing the car for months, but it's finally going to be unveiled in Frankfurt.

If you want something that is a little more practical and a little more available, Brabus has just the thing.

Ever sit in your Mercedes-AMG S 65 Cabrio and think "621 hp just isn't enough. I need more. Way more." Well, lucky you, and you're not the only one. Brabus, maker of absurd performance cars since 1977, has what you want. An S-Class Cabrio with more power than just about anything with an opening roof.

Brabus takes the AMG hand-built 6.0L twin-turbo V12 and makes it bigger. To 6.3 litres. They put a longer stroke crankshaft in it, and the cylinders are bored. The exhaust manifolds are bigger, there are new turbochargers, a grille-mounted air intake, and a new airbox with gold foil heat reflection.

It boosts the puny 621 hp and 738 lb-ft of torque to a nice, round 900 hp and an incredible 1,106 lb-ft. Although once the engine is installed in the car, torque is limited to 885 lb-ft. All that power is good for a 0-100 km/h run of 3.9 seconds and a top speed of over 350 km/h. Brabus calls it the world's fastest and most powerful street-legal open-top four-seater. But you might have trouble finding rear-seat passengers willing to make that 350 km/h run with you.

Making 900 hp makes a lot of noise, and Brabus has put a big, loud exhaust on the Rocket 900 Cabrio. If you care about your neighbours, press the steering-wheel mounted button to put it in quiet mode, what Brabus calls "coming home mode."

Brabus offers wind tunnel tuned bodywork for the car, with a front spoiler, side skirts, and rear bumper. All are available in bare carbon and help high-speed stability. Brabus Monoblock wheels are available in 18 to 21-inch diameters, but the Rocket 900 gets special 21-inch designs with Continental tires in 255 width front and 295 rear.

Inside, the Rocket is customizable with Brabus logos as well as leather that is available in "virtually unlimited colours and materials."

If you're interested, Brabus can deliver a Rocket 900 as a brand new, complete car or they can apply their wizardry to any current S 65 Cabrio. Brabus has also left the start-stop system active, which helps the Rocket hit 21.6 L/100 km city, 9.5 highway, on the more generous Euro fuel economy cycle. You know, if you were worried that your 900 hp rocket ship might make you look less green.