Brabus have recently been rather adventurous, venturing beyond the Mercedes-Benz and AMG ecosystem and taking on more models from Porsche, Bentley, and even Lamborghini. This time, however, the tuner is stepping into entirely new territory with the Brabus Bodo — its latest creation and the company’s first-ever fully coach-built vehicle, rather than one based on an existing model.
We Malaysians might laugh at the name first, so let’s get that out of the way. ‘Bodo’ refers to Bodo Buschmann, the founder of Brabus. Established in 1977, the company built its reputation on creating outrageously enhanced versions of cars from various luxury and exotic brands.
Buschmann passed away in 2018, having achieved almost everything he envisioned for Brabus. According to the company, however, there was still one dream left unrealised: building a large coupe.
“I want to build a Gran Turismo. Attitude-forward, high-class, unapologetic. I want it to be inspired by the golden age of the automobile, yet translated into the modern day. Progressive, bold, effortless in its presence, powerful and undeniably Brabus.” Buschmann once said, according to Brabus.
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The Brabus Bodo first started life as an Aston Martin Vanquish. While that was already a stunning car, the Bodo, obviously, looks nothing like it and may subjectively look even better. Every panel is different from the Vanquish and is made completely out of carbon fibre, with only the roof section being carried over from the English “Super Grand Tourer”.
The front features a massive grille flanked by slim headlights and wide, gaping side vents. Combined with its long bonnet and sloping roofline, the Bodo carries an unmistakably dramatic presence.
From the side, the coupe’s ultra-wide body is defined by smooth, flowing surfaces that sweep elegantly towards the rear, giving it an incredibly aerodynamic silhouette. At the back, the dotted LED taillight signature appears to reinterpret the rear design of the Vantage. However, the Bodo’s exaggerated proportions make the Aston look restrained in comparison, resembling something straight out of a superhero cartoon.
To tie its looks together, the Brabus Bodo sits on massive 21-inch Brabus Monoblock Z-GT ‘Shadow Edition’ wheels, with a set of carbon-ceramic brake discs paired with six-piston callipers for optimal stopping force. Wrapping them are Continental SportContact 7 Force tyres, which are specifically developed for the new model.
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Underneath that massive bonnet is an equally commanding engine — a 5.2-litre turbocharged V12 engine derived from the Aston Martin Vantage, but tuned to produce a staggering 1000 hp and 1,200 Nm.
Power is sent to the rear wheels only via an eight-speed automatic torque converter gearbox, enabling a 0-100 km/h sprint in just 3.0 seconds and a top speed of 360 km/h. The latter is still electronically limited, so theoretically, it could go even faster.
Inside, things are slightly less bespoke, with much of the hardware and overall layout carried over from the Vanquish. However, the turbine-style air vents are borrowed from Brabus’ more familiar Mercedes-umbrella creations. Notable touches include Nubuck leather upholstery, Brabus embroidery on the headrests, and generous use of carbon-fibre trim throughout the cabin.
Production will be limited to 77 units worldwide to honour the year of Brabus’ inception, with annual output ranging between 10 and 15 vehicles. Of course, no price tag was disclosed. But let’s be real — this is one of those cars where, if you have to ask, it’s probably not for you.
GALLERY
