Brabus Bodo: the latest Brabus madness has a V12 with an English accent

Founded in 1977 as a small tuning company, Brabus built its reputation modifying Mercedes-Benz cars and, more recently, has become known for badging the sportiest Smart versions. However, the German marque does far more than that, and the Brabus Bodo is definitive proof.

Named in tribute to its founder, Bodo Buschmann, it does not begin life as a Mercedes, as might be expected. Instead, it is based on the Aston Martin Vanquish - a machine we have already driven. Yet this is no ordinary tuning project; it is automotive haute couture.

Its bodywork has been completely reworked, adopting more aggressive lines and a visual presence designed for maximum drama. The outcome is a long-proportioned “hyper GT” with an aesthetic so imposing that it would not look out of place as Batman’s next car.

© Brabus

Twin-turbo V12 with 1000 hp

At a time when electrification is becoming increasingly common among supercars, the Brabus Bodo takes a traditional route: rear-wheel drive and a large internal-combustion engine.

How large? It is a 5.2-litre V12 with two turbochargers - the same engine fitted to the Vanquish. Here, however, output is a round 1000 hp and torque rises to 1200 Nm, delivered to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic gearbox.

This gives the Bodo a 0–100 km/h time of just 3.0 s and a top speed of 360 km/h.

Carbon fibre, gold and an obsession with black

The mechanical package is impressive, but the design is no less striking. The entire body is made from carbon fibre and is almost wholly finished in black, Brabus’s signature colour.

Inside, as expected, certain components from the original Aston Martin Vanquish remain, including part of the infotainment system architecture, now upgraded with Apple CarPlay Ultra.

That is where the resemblance to its British donor car ends. The exterior philosophy carries into the cabin, where the Brabus Bodo uses darkened materials and carbon-fibre details, offset by leather trim and bespoke elements.

There is also an unexpected touch: some components contain gold particles embedded in the fabric, solely for their visual effect, in an interior that retains a 2+2 layout.

Limited production and hypercar pricing

The tribute to the Brabus founder is also reflected in details such as the Bodo’s production run: just 77 examples, a reference to the year Brabus was founded.

As for price, what is probably one of the most exclusive Brabus models ever created costs more than one million euros, before any of the usual optional extras - and taxes - are added.