Geneva Launch March 2004 of the "Concept M5"

Here we have the new C55 AMG that is the successor to the C32 AMG. Mercedes-AMG is changing from Kompressor to normally aspirated 5,5 liter 367 HP engine. Not a particularly highly-tuned engine. Notice the quad exhausts that the C32 AMG did not have.

The C55 AMG redlines at 6700 rpm and does 0-1000 m in 24 s and is also available as an estate.

It is not only the M3 or M5 that needs cooling from sidevents on the engine. Here we have the Geneva-premiere of the G55 Kompressor, a Geländewagen with 476 HP and an impressive 700 Nm of torque. It has newly developed 18 inch 285/55 R18 wheels.

This will sprint from 0-100 km/h in 5,6 s which is quite impressive for a 2550 kg "car".

But there is always someone who wants to be faster. So Mercedes tuner Brabus have the G V12 ready for a world premiere at the Geneva Salon with 610 HP and a peak torque of precisely 1006 Nm. It will improve the acceleration 0,3 s to 100 km/h and the top speed is electronically limited to 230 km/h.

The interiour is covered with Brabus Mastik leather for an especilly soft feeling.

This engined is also installed in the E-class which we covered on the report from the Frankfurt Salon this autumn. To read that pelase click here.

Attention to details was also something that is true with the Maybach. Small but noticable details like the door opens 90 degrees as well as it does not have any fixed position where it is open, you can leave it at any angle and it will stay there. I especially liked the large wood panels, similar to the ones in the Aston Martin DB7.

Welcome to the worlds largest independt tuner: Brabus. The floor of the Brabus stand was filled with various Brabus "artifacts".

Thankfully for those who wants some more performance from their Maybach you can go to Brabus. The Maybach board of directors have given Brabus the official OK to still let them use the Maybach-logo, the double-M in an arched triangle.

These auxillary headlights and the 21' wheels sets the Brabus Maybach aparts from the standard Maybach. The lights function as daytime running lights.

It is equipped with the SV12 bi-turbo increased-displacement engine. The twelve-cylinder bi-turbo engine delivers a maximum power output of 640 hp @ 5,100 rpm and a peak torque of 1026 Nm, available from 1750 rpm.

The Maybach 57 accelerates in just 4.9 s from 0 - 100 km/h. Top speed is electronically limited to 300 km/h.

Brabus have the interiour fitted in leather and Alcantara with an embossed Brabus logo in the headrest.

Internet access is provided through wireless-LAN or fourplex GPRS router using the GSM-network. In anycase there seem the be a bad GPRS connection in the salon since accessing bmwm5.com did not work.

The computer screens are changed to 16:9 format and have a diagonal of 15,2 inches compared to 9 inches for the standard Maybach. On the righ screen we are looking at the results from the Formula One.

The Brabus speedometer for the rearpassengers is barely enough since it is limited to 300 km/h top speed. However the speedometer for the driver reaches 320 km/h. Notice the contrasting colour of the stitching that is a theme all over the Brabus Maybach.

If I however really needed a large luxury-business express a Brabus S V12 maybe would be a more "reasonable" as well as a more sporty choise.

The base 500 HP Mercedes S600 with a twin-turbo V-12 is tuned to 650 HP and 1026 Nm. 0-100 km/h is reached in an impressive 4,3 s and a limited top-speed of 310 km/h. Brabus brochure of the S V-12 promise to "...offer a memorable experience".

For the ones who think a regular Mercedes SL or S-class does not give you enough of attention there is always alternatives... Fab Design is one. And ther are not doing anything for BMW...