Five things you need to know about the Brabus 850 XL

Not unlike the regular GLS - a seven-seat SUV with Range Rover-rivalling dimensions. That makes it very big indeed, and a much rarer sight on Britain’s quite tight roads than the smaller GLE. The regular GLS 63 is 5162mm long and 1982mm wide, making it longer than and as wide as a Rangie. Granted, the GLS does have seven seats, which the Rangie doesn’t. 

Indeed, Brabus has bored out the standard 5,461cc bi-turbo V8 to 5,912cc and fitted its own, bigger turbochargers. There’s a carbon intake module, modified exhaust manifolds and a stainless steel exhaust, among other modifications. The result is 838bhp (Brabus also offers packages that take the GLS to 622bhp and 690bhp from its standard 585bhp), which means 0-62mph in 4.2seconds and a top speed electronically limited to 186mph because that’s all the tyres can handle. For a car that weighs north of 2.6 tonnes, that’s mighty impressive. 

This is the number we really like. The 850 XL has 1,069lb ft of torque – twice that of the AMG GT S. Or, roughly, a Bentley Mulanne Speed plus a Mini JCW. So much for all those caravanists and their miserly crossovers – this thing could tow your entire street to Cornwall, let alone a featherweight fibreglass box. 

Brabus has added much leather and Alcantara to the interior of this 850. It certainly is brown, and we’re not massively convinced by the braided leather highlights or ‘chequered flag’ carbon trim, but remember this is a Brabus. Write it a big enough cheque and it’ll do anything you want…

No Brabus is complete without a bodykit. The one fitted to the 850 is made from carbon (obviously), and bits of it were optimised in a wind tunnel. The new front valance reduces front axle lift, for example. Cosmetic mods also include a diffuser with integrated tailpipes, 23inch alloy wheels, side skirts and a spoiler.