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Brabus-tuned Mercedes G500 4x4 is an over-powered off-roader

Even from the factory, the Mercedes-Benz G500 4x42 is an off-road bruiser that's good for 415 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque. Apparently, those already meaty figures just aren't enough for the power-hungry folks at Brabus. The company's new tuning kit for the twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 pushes things up to 493 hp and a prodigious 523 lb-ft of twist. On top of the grunt, buyers can order a heap of extras to make the SUV look a whole lot meaner. They're all going on display at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show. The heart of Brabus' power upgrade is its custom control module to tweak the engine management, and the result is adjusted boost pressure and the mapping for the fuel injection and ignition. There's also a stainless steel exhaust with butterflies that vary between "Sport" and an appropriately named "Coming Home" mode at the press of a button. The chrome tailpipes add an extra visual pop, too. The G500 4x42 rides on off-road tires, and even after Brabus' big boost, it's not lightning quick. The run to 62 miles per hour now takes 6.9 seconds, and the rubber also mandates a top speed limited to 130 mph. For buyers really looking to show off, Brabus has a wild body kit for the G500, too. It includes new lower bumpers and polished underbody guards. Meanwhile, the hood grows a scoop, and the headlight update adds black-tinted Xenon lights with LED turn signals to replace the units usually on the fenders. Inside, a mix of quilted leather, Alcantara and bright red stitches finishes off the brash tweaks. World premiere at the IAA 2015 BRABUS refines the Mercedes G 500 4x42 368 kW / 500 HP, 710 Nm of torque and exclusive BRABUS luxury appointments for the extreme off-roader Mercedes G 500 4x42: the new special model of the G-Class is designed for maximum off-road capabilities and offers the perfect basis for exclusive refinement a la BRABUS (Brabus-Allee, D-46240 Bottrop, phone +49 / (0) 2041 / 777-0, fax +49 / (0) 2041 / 777 111, Internet www.brabus.com). This includes an increase in the power output of the twin-turbo V8 to 368 kW / 500 HP (493 bhp) and a boost in its peak torque to 710 Nm (523 lb-ft). As a result, the tuned off-roader sprints from rest to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 6.9 seconds. Due to the all-out off-road tires, the top speed is limited electronically to 210 km/h (130 mph). The spectacular appearance of the all-wheel-drive car is bolstered further by a high-end BRABUS paint finish and targeted BRABUS bodywork modifications.

Mercedes-AMG could use electric turbos

Mercedes-Benz is joining Audi in analyzing electric turbochargers for its production cars. But while Ingolstadt will roll out its first e-turbo in its A8 luxury sedan, Stuttgart is studying the technology for use in small performance cars, like the A45, CLA45, and GLA45 AMG models. Auto Express spoke to Mercedes-AMG compact car boss Steffen Jastrow about the cutting-edge tech, which reduces turbo lag, improves fuel economy, and occupies less space under the hood than a standard turbo. "Of course we need more power for the next-generation of cars, but electrification does not mean we have to use an electric drivetrain." Jastrow said. "They have to be faster and e-turbos are an option. We use them in motorsport, but the technology has to be payable for the customer." As AE tells it, bringing the price of e-turbos down from the A8's luxury car level to the relatively affordable sums demanded by compact AMG models will still take some time. So don't count on seeing a Mercedes with an electric turbocharger until the new A-Class arrives in 2017, at the earliest. Related Video:

Lewis Hamilton scores a record 80th pole in Japan, Vettel ninth

SUZUKA, Japan (Reuters) - Formula One leader Lewis Hamilton seized a record-extending 80th pole position at the Japanese Grand Prix on Saturday, timing his sole flying lap to perfection while Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel managed only ninth. The Mercedes driver, in dominant form all weekend at the Suzuka circuit, pumped in a one minute 27.760 second lap on the super-soft tires while it was still only just spitting with rain. Vettel and Ferrari teammate Kimi Raikkonen, who went out on intermediate tires in the final part of qualifying with the track still dry, lost time coming back in to fit the super-soft tires. The German then made another mistake on his first flying lap and was unable to get another one in as the intermittent drizzle turned into a full-blown shower that drenched the track. Meanwhile, Hamilton – who along with team mate Valtteri Bottas had gone out straight away on the super-soft tires to beat the rain – was lighting up the timing screens. "The team have done an amazing job this weekend, and the call that we made for Q3 was probably the most difficult," said the Briton, joined by Bottas on the front row after the Finn completed a second successive Mercedes front row lockout. "It's so difficult when the pressure is on to make the right call but that's the big difference between us this year and that's why we're the best and the team deserve it," added Hamilton. Vettel trails his fellow four-times champion by 50 points in the standings with just four races left after Japan. His hopes are fading fast and he needs a huge stroke of luck now to reignite his challenge. "Obviously it's not the position we deserve to be in," said the 31-year-old. "I think we have better speed than ninth but we'll start there and see how it goes. "Anything can happen tomorrow. Tomorrow is a new day." RICCIARDO FUMES Vettel's misfortune allowed 21-year-old Dutch driver Max Verstappen to qualify third for Red Bull. "We have a bigger chance now to be on the podium," said Verstappen, doubting that he would need to worry too much about the others' title battle: "Is it still a battle? I'm not sure," he said. While the Dutchman celebrated, teammate Daniel Ricciardo was left hoarse with anger after a power unit problem sidelined him during the second phase of qualifying before he had set a time. The Australian, as a consequence, is set to start 15th. "I just can't catch a break," said Ricciardo, who is leaving Red Bull for Renault at the end of the year.