The infamous BOT B8 license plate is back, and as always, it's making waves in the automotive world. Long associated with high-end Brabus builds, this plate has graced some of the wildest machines to hit the streets. In 2015, it was spotted on the Brabus ML B63-700 Widestar in El Toro, on the Spanish island of Mallorca. Fast-forward to 2023, and the same plate resurfaced on the towering Brabus G B40S-800 Widestar 4x4² W463, again in Düsseldorf. Now, it returns to the spotlight, once again in Düsseldorf, on something even more outrageous: the Brabus Rocket 1000 GTS.
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The power of a vision: Welcome to the next chapter of the Brabus Rocket legacy
Unveiled during the Brabus Signature Night in November 2024 in Düsseldorf, a glittering event packed with VIPs, celebrities, clients, and international dealers, the Rocket 1000 GTS wasn't just a premiere, it was a statement. Brabus, once seen as a pure tuner, has grown into a full-blown lifestyle brand, complete with high-performance cars, yachts, luxury apartments in Dubai, and beyond.
But at its core, Brabus remains a name synonymous with radical automotive innovation, and nothing proves that more than this hyper gran turismo shooting brake. Built on the bones of a Mercedes-AMG SL 63, the Rocket 1000 GTS is no mere body kit upgrade. In fact, there’s virtually nothing left of the original exterior.
Design & exterior: Hyper Gran Turismo meets Shooting Brake
The Rocket 1000 GTS is the very definition of 1-Second-Wow. It introduces an entirely reimagined silhouette, sleek, aggressive, and undeniably Brabus, clad in exposed carbon fiber from front to rear. Brabus didn’t simply 3D-scan and reprint panels. They engineered an all-new widebody carbon shell using advanced CAD and CFD technologies, followed by extensive wind tunnel testing. The result? A sculpted Shooting Brake form with hypercar-level aerodynamic optimization.
The bodywork is autoclave-formed using cutting-edge prepreg carbon fiber, making it exceptionally lightweight and strong. The car is widened significantly to a road-dominating 198.5 cm and lowered to deliver a menacing, glued-to-the-road stance.
Up front, the new Brabus Rocket front apron integrates massive air intakes and a carbon splitter to channel air efficiently to radiators and brakes, while reducing front axle lift at high speeds. Along the sides, exposed carbon rocker panels blend into muscular rear fenders. At the back, the Rocket rear apron houses a wind-tunnel-tested diffuser and four illuminated, carbon-wrapped titanium tailpipes, both a visual signature and a source of additional downforce, especially when paired with the ducktail and rear hatch spoilers.
Power & sound: Ready to Rocket
Underneath this aggressively styled body lies a hybrid drivetrain that puts most supercars to shame. The Rocket 1000 GTS fuses a heavily re-engineered 4.5-liter twin-turbo V8 with a potent electric drive unit.
The combustion engine, dubbed the Brabus Rocket 1000 V8, delivers a staggering 796 hp and 1,250 Nm of torque, though torque is electronically capped at 1,050 Nm to preserve drivetrain components. This engine works in tandem with a 204 hp permanently excited synchronous electric motor integrated into the rear axle. Together, they produce a total system output of 1,000 hp (735 kW / 986 bhp) and 1,820 Nm, electronically limited to 1,620 Nm.
This setup includes a two-speed automatic gearbox for the electric motor and a high-capacity 6.1 kWh lithium-ion battery, ensuring immediate torque delivery and a rapid, seamless hybrid experience. The internal combustion engine’s power is funneled through a 9-speed sports transmission with paddle shifters for full driver engagement.
Performance figures are mind-bending:
• 0 - 100 km/h: 2.6 seconds
• 0 - 200 km/h: 9.5 seconds
• 0 - 300 km/h: 23.6 seconds
Top speed: electronically limited to 317 km/h.
The soundtrack of this beast is customizable via the Brabus high-performance exhaust system, which comes with special catalysts, particulate filters, and active valves. Whether you want the quiet whisper of “Coming Home” mode or the full thunder of a V8 roar, the Rocket GTS delivers on command.
Wheels & chassis: Next-level engineering
To support its performance and aesthetics, the Rocket GTS rides on Brabus Monoblock P “Platinum Edition” wheels. These five-spoke forged rims, inspired by center-lock racing wheels, are CNC-machined for optimal strength and lightness. Unique exposed carbon aero blades channel hot air from the brakes, improving cooling while enhancing visual aggression.
Interior: Masterpiece luxury, Brabus style
Step inside the Rocket GTS, and you’re enveloped in a handcrafted Brabus Masterpiece interior. The seats, doors, dash, and center console are upholstered in premium slate gray leather, with black Alcantara accenting the headliner, pillars, and upper panels. Precision-stitched in the distinctive “Seashell Diamond” quilted pattern, the interior radiates exclusivity. Even the floor and trunk feature this extravagant design.
The attention to detail is unmistakable, from the backlit carbon entry sills to the matte “Shadow Gray” switchgear, air vents, and speaker grilles. The famous Brabus “Double-B” logo is embossed into the seats, while “Rocket GTS” branding is integrated into the dash and seatbelt accents.
Carbon fiber continues throughout: pedals, steering wheel rim, door handles, and elements of the center console all carry the same lightweight motif as the exterior.
Limited production: Built to order
Like all Brabus Masterpieces, the Rocket 1000 GTS is built to individual specifications. Every example is a one-off, a personal statement of speed, design, and extravagance. With only a limited number being produced, this isn’t just a car — it’s an heirloom of high-performance automotive art.
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