For almost 50 years, Brabus has been synonymous with heavily modified Mercedes-Benz models. Now the family-run company from Bottrop is taking its biggest step yet. With the Bodo, Brabus is unveiling its first model with a completely bespoke body and a name few will forget. Price tag: around one million euros.
For decades, Brabus built its reputation refining the fastest and most luxurious vehicles from Mercedes-Benz. The Bodo changes that entirely. Named after company founder Bodo Buschmann, who passed away in 2018, the new grand tourer fulfils a vision he had discussed for years with his son and current CEO Constantin Buschmann.
“This vehicle represents a vision that was very close to my father’s heart for many years and something we often spoke about,” explains Constantin Buschmann. “Bringing this vision to life has been an emotional and deeply personal process.”
The concept itself is refreshingly traditional. The Bodo is a dramatic 2+2-seat grand tourer coupe. Elegant, muscular and unmistakably extravagant. It made its debut during the Fuori Concorso event alongside the prestigious Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este at Lake Como.
Its carbon-fibre bodywork is not merely theatrical. Every surface has been shaped with aerodynamics in mind, from the giant rear diffuser to the active rear spoiler that adjusts both angle and height depending on driving conditions. Despite the elegance, the Bodo is engineered squarely within supercar territory.
Power comes from a 5.2-litre twin-turbocharged V12 producing 736 kW / 1,000 PS and a colossal 1,200 Nm of torque. However, the specification also reveals something important: the Bodo is not based on a Mercedes-Benz platform. In recent years, Brabus has increasingly expanded beyond Stuttgart machinery with projects based on Land Rover, Porsche, Bentley and Lamborghini products. The platform underpinning the Bodo originates from the Aston Martin Vanquish.
Unlike many coachbuilt hypercars, the Bodo will not remain a one-off. Production is limited to 77 cars, a direct nod to 1977, the founding year of Brabus. Even so, that number still makes the Aston Martin Vanquish appear almost mass-produced by comparison.
Inside, Brabus has pushed its craftsmanship further than ever before. The cabin is entirely bespoke and can be personalised almost without limitation. Fine leather, Alcantara and intricate detailing extend throughout all four seats, blending luxury and sporting intent in equal measure.
At around 1.7 tonnes, the Bodo is hardly lightweight, yet for a luxury GT with this level of equipment it remains relatively restrained. Balanced weight distribution contributes to precise handling and predictable dynamics even when exploring the car’s full performance potential.
And those figures are formidable.
The Bodo accelerates from 0-100 km/h in just 3.0 seconds and reaches 300 km/h in 23.9 seconds. Top speed stands at 360 km/h, placing it among the fastest grand tourers in the world.
To help harness those numbers, Brabus has equipped the Bodo with multiple driving modes ranging from “Wet” through to “Super+”, altering the aggression of the drivetrain and chassis systems. The adaptive suspension, developed together with KW Automotive, can likewise be adjusted from comfort-focused cruising to circuit-ready firmness.
There is even a front-axle lift system for negotiating ramps and speed bumps, adding a welcome degree of usability to the otherwise extreme machine.
Pricing starts at around one million euros before taxes and options. And given the near-limitless personalisation programme, few customers are likely to leave theirs anywhere near standard specification. Yet considering the exclusivity, craftsmanship and performance on offer, the figure feels less outrageous than it first appears.
Besides, Brabus will apparently include a matching leather weekender bag free of charge.
