Tag Archives: Mercedes-Benz

Tuning

Brabus Rocket GTC: A Convertible That Wants to Warp Time

Monterey Car Week isn’t short on spectacle. You can’t swing a silk scarf without hitting a seven-figure hypercar that looks like it’s just landed from Mars. But this year, Brabus decided that wasn’t quite enough noise and rolled up with something called the Rocket GTC—a name that sounds less like a car and more like a Cold War missile silo.

The donor car is no slouch: Mercedes’ SL63 S E Performance, a plug-in hybrid grand tourer already packing 816 horsepower. But Brabus, never content with “quite powerful enough,” got the spanners out, bored out the V8 from 4.0 to 4.5 litres, wound the turbos up to “are you absolutely sure?” and came back with a 1,000 horsepower convertible. That’s right. Four figures. In a drop-top. Because sanity is for accountants.

Torque? An interstellar 1,820 Nm, although the engineers politely limited it to 1,620 Nm. Apparently, that was the point where the gearbox and driveshafts started filing complaints with HR. Still, even with the leash on, it’ll hurl itself from 0–100 km/h in 2.6 seconds. A Ferrari 296 would barely have finished checking its mirrors.

Of course, Brabus didn’t just crank the power and call it a day. The SL’s bodywork has been on a steady diet of carbon fibre and steroids: swollen arches, fresh bumpers, a ducktail spoiler, and so many air intakes you could confuse it for a jet engine. The wheels? Bespoke 21-inch up front, 22-inch at the rear, with aerodynamic blades and proper center-lock studs—because what’s a hyper-GT without race car cosplay?

And when you’re done terrorising time and space, you can sink into an interior that’s been drowned in red leather. Seats, dashboard, door panels, even the floor mats. It’s less “grand tourer” and more “Dracula’s lounge.” Brabus also fitted a new stainless steel exhaust, which, judging by the company’s track record, is less about emissions and more about ensuring the neighbours know you’ve just started the car from three postal codes away.

So, what is the Rocket GTC? It’s not a supercar, not really a grand tourer, and certainly not a convertible in the usual sense. It’s a 1,000 horsepower, leather-lined, carbon-clad act of lunacy—the sort of car you build because nobody told you to stop.

And we love them for it.

Source: Brabus

News

BMW Heart, Mercedes Soul?

In a move that sounds less like German engineering and more like a soap opera plot twist, we might soon be staring down the barrel of BMW engines inside Mercedes-Benz cars. Yes, you read that correctly: the Bavarian roundel under the bonnet of the three-pointed star. Somewhere in Stuttgart, an engineer just choked on his pretzel.

According to a whisper from Manager Magazin, Mercedes is in talks with BMW to buy its four-cylinder engines from 2027 onward. The candidate? None other than BMW’s workhorse, the B48 — a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-pot that’s already busy powering half the BMW lineup, from Minis to the X5. Built in Steyr, Austria, the B48 is as versatile as a Swiss army knife: it’ll fit sideways, lengthways, and probably even upside down if you asked nicely. For Mercedes, that flexibility means it can slot the engine into everything from compact runabouts to mid-size plug-in hybrids.

Now, some of you might be wondering: doesn’t Mercedes already have a four-cylinder engine? Indeed, it does. The shiny new M252, currently humming away in the CLA, paired with a mild-hybrid system. But here’s the snag — it’s about as good at playing nice with plug-in hybrid tech as cats are with bath time. Worse still, it’s built in China, which makes it a tariff nightmare for US-bound models. Cue the BMW B48 swooping in like a knight in Bavarian armor, potentially backed by a shared US engine plant to dodge Uncle Sam’s import taxes.

And this is where things get deliciously ironic. Remember when Mercedes promised in 2021 that it would be all electric by 2030? Fast forward a few years, and that dream has gone the way of your old iPod. With EV demand cooling faster than a Weissbier in the Alps, Mercedes has admitted that internal combustion will live “well into the 2030s.” Translation: the petrol engine is going nowhere, and Stuttgart needs a partner to keep the flames alive.

Of course, BMW is no stranger to lending out its engines. Morgan, Ineos, Range Rover — all happily running on Bavarian lungs. Even Toyota’s Supra isn’t shy about admitting it’s basically a Z4 in cosplay. But Mercedes? This would be unprecedented. Two German luxury titans sharing the same beating heart? It’s like discovering that Coke bottles its soda at the Pepsi plant.

If this deal goes through, expect purists on both sides to clutch their AMG and M Division rosaries. Will a BMW-powered Mercedes still feel like a Mercedes? Or will it have just enough Bavarian DNA to develop an annoying habit of tail-happiness on roundabouts?

One thing’s for sure: in 2027, the Autobahn is going to get a lot more complicated.

Source: Manager Magazin via Autocar

NEW CARS

2026 Mercedes-Benz GLA – The Golf and ID.3 Killer in the Making

Mercedes-Benz isn’t just refreshing its smallest crossover — it’s plotting a full-on assault on the compact premium segment. And if you happen to be a Volkswagen Golf or ID.3, you might want to start looking over your shoulder. The all-new, third-generation GLA is coming in 2026 with both electric and hybrid powertrains, a sleeker profile, and tech borrowed straight from Stuttgart’s next-gen playbook.

This is no mild facelift. Built on Mercedes’ new MMA (Mercedes Modular Architecture) platform, the baby Benz crossover will replace two existing models — the first-gen EQA EV in the second half of 2026, and the second-gen ICE-powered GLA in early 2027.

Sharper, Sleeker, and More Coupe-Like

Spy shots reveal a more athletic stance than today’s GLA, with a lower roofline, a tauter beltline, and the brand’s fresh “Iconic Grille” up front. That coupe-like silhouette comes with some added length, too: just over 4,500mm (177 inches), stretching past today’s GLA (4,410mm) and the outgoing EQA (4,463mm). The growth spurt should unlock more rear-seat space and cargo room — a welcome upgrade for anyone who’s found the current GLA’s back seat a little cozy.

Inside: CLA DNA Meets Crossover Practicality

While the interior remains under wraps, Mercedes insiders hint the new GLA will channel the cabin vibe of the recently revealed CLA sedan and incoming GLB crossover. That means a free-standing, full-width display, AI-supported infotainment, and richer materials than before. Translation: your compact crossover will feel more like a tech lounge than a daily driver.

The EV version also gets a practical bonus the EQA never offered — a frunk. It’s not just for show; paired with the MMA’s flat-floor packaging, it’ll make the GLA EV a far more functional family hauler.

Electric Muscle, AMG Heat

The electric GLA borrows its core hardware from the new CLA, including an 800V electrical system for ultra-rapid charging. Expect two battery options:

  • 58.5-kWh LFP pack for affordability and durability
  • 85-kWh NMC pack for maximum range — up to a projected 484 miles (WLTP)

Buyers can choose between a 268-hp single-motor setup or a 349-hp dual-motor AWD version. But the real thrill arrives in 2027, when AMG steps in with at least two performance variants using axial flux motors from British specialist Yasa — the same tech that’s been making EV insiders giddy.

Hybrid Power for the ICE Faithful

Not ready to go full EV? The ICE-powered GLA will share its drivetrain lineup with the CLA: a hybridized 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, offered with 134 hp, 161 hp, or 188 hp, all paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic. This isn’t old-school gas-guzzling — expect efficiency and emissions numbers designed to survive tightening EU regs.

Made in Germany, with Intent

Production will take place at Mercedes’ freshly upgraded Rastatt plant, alongside the CLA. This isn’t just a platform-share convenience — it’s Mercedes signaling that the GLA is a core player in its compact strategy, not an afterthought.

The compact premium market is already a knife fight between VW, BMW, and Mercedes, but with the third-gen GLA, Stuttgart is bringing a longer blade, sharper edge, and maybe even a little swagger. If VW’s Golf and ID.3 have been sleeping well, they probably shouldn’t anymore.

Source: Mercedes-Benz