Just when the G‑class seemed to have reached its peak, Brabus rips the roof off convention — literally. The new 800 Cabrio and XL 800 Cabrio are brutal, bespoke convertibles built on the current Mercedes‑AMG G 63 platform, and each version will be limited to just 50 examples. These machines aren’t mere topless G‑wagons; they’re hand‑crafted, high‑performance statements with custom “Brabus Masterpiece” interiors and a relentlessly show‑stopping presence.
Brabus has reworked the bodywork around the C‑pillar to create an electrically operated soft top made up of more than 500 specially developed components. It folds or deploys in 20 seconds, giving occupants an instant open‑air thrill. Structural reinforcement is everywhere: an integrated carbon‑fibre roof bow sharpens the roof contour and improves acoustic insulation, while a heavy‑duty steel roll bar behind the cabin adds crucial safety and rigidity. Both cars wear wide‑body conversions and unique 24‑inch wheels (about 61 cm diameter) that underline their bespoke stance. Despite sharing a silhouette, the two cars take wildly different paths.
The standard 800 Cabrio is tuned for on‑road performance: it sits lower, runs on high‑performance road tyres and shows off exposed carbon elements on the exterior. The XL 800 Cabrio, by contrast, is an extreme all‑terrain creature. Fitted with portal axles and roughly 48.0 cm of ground clearance, it’s designed to climb, crawl and conquer where ordinary luxury convertibles dare not venture — all while keeping occupants sheltered from spray and dust. Under the rear deck sits a heavily revised 4.0‑litre twin‑turbo V8 derived from the AMG G 63 powerplant. Brabus extracts 789 bhp from the block — the equivalent of about 779 hp — and 1,000 Nm of torque. That surge of power sends the 800 Cabrio from rest to 100 km/h in 4.0 seconds and carries it on to a top speed of around 241 km/h. The taller, all‑terrain XL, with its off‑road rubber and added ride height, hits 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds, impressively rapid given its rugged hardware. Inside, Brabus plays the luxury card to the hilt.
Expect an opulent cabin finished in the finest hides, with an extravagant palette and painstaking detailing. Features engineered for open‑top comfort include neck‑level heating built into the headrests so passengers can savor fresh air even when temperatures drop. Every surface appears to have been considered: stitching, veneers, carbon trim and bespoke badging combine to create a tailored environment that matches the cars’ wild looks with old‑world craftsmanship. These exclusive machines carry eye‑watering price tags. The black 800 Cabrio shown is priced at €761,500 (export price in Germany, excluding 19% VAT). The brown XL 800 Cabrio is listed at €887,600 (again excluding VAT). To put that in perspective, the gap between the XL’s asking price and a standard AMG G 63 is enormous — roughly €567,450 more than a G 63, which begins at about €216,450 in comparable terms.
Brabus has taken the G‑class’s theatricality and amplified it into something audacious and uncompromising. These convertibles aren’t subtle — they’re engineered spectacle, merging off‑road bravado, supercar power and the kind of handcrafted luxury that customers buy when they want to stand apart from everything else on the road.
