The automotive world witnessed something extraordinary at the 2025 Monterey Car Week when Brabus unveiled their latest masterpiece: the Rocket GTC Deep Red. This isn’t just another tuned Mercedes; it’s a statement piece that redefines what’s possible when German engineering meets unbridled ambition.
The Volcanic Beauty That Stops Traffic
The Rocket GTC Deep Red made its world debut at Pebble Beach during the 2025 Monterey Car Week, continuing the lineage that began with the blacked-out 211 mph Rocket CLS back in 2006. The “Deep Red” nomenclature isn’t marketing fluff – Brabus opted for a very lively and vivid shade of red that almost looks ‘volcanic’.
The visual transformation goes far beyond paint. Brabus added a ducktail rear spoiler, a massive diffuser, and wide carbon arches that completely reimagine the Mercedes-AMG SL’s proportions. The result is a convertible that looks more like a hypercar that happens to have a removable roof.
The interior maintains the volcanic theme with deep red leather interior and carbon fiber accents for the dashboard, the steering wheel, and the door panels. Every surface has been meticulously crafted to match the exterior’s dramatic presence, creating a cohesive design language that screams performance luxury.
Engineering Marvel: 1,000 Horsepower Hybrid System
Under the hood lies the crown jewel of Brabus engineering. Starting with the hybridized SL63 S E Performance as its base, Brabus bores out the twin-turbo V8 engine to 4.5 litres, creating a powertrain that defies conventional logic.
The numbers are staggering: 986 horsepower and 1,342 lb-ft of torque from the combined hybrid system. However, torque figures are equally eye-watering at 1,820 Nm, though this has been electronically capped at 1,620 Nm to prevent drivetrain destruction.
Brabus enlarges displacement to 4.5 liters, adds forged pistons, a re-machined crankshaft, and two oversized turbochargers. This extensive re-engineering transforms the already potent Mercedes hybrid system into something that rivals dedicated hypercars.
Performance That Defies Physics
The performance figures read like a hypercar spec sheet. The Brabus Rocket GTC accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.6 seconds, reaches 200 km/h in 9.5 seconds, and hits 300 km/h in 23.6 seconds. Power is sent to all four wheels through a nine-speed transmission, with top speed electronically limited at 197 mph.
Brabus helpfully points out that all this makes the Rocket one of the fastest open-top hybrids ever created. In an era where convertible supercars often compromise on performance for structural integrity, the Rocket GTC proves that having your roof and removing it too is possible.
The acceleration figures put it in the same league as closed-roof hypercars, making it faster than many Ferraris and Lamborghinis while offering the wind-in-your-hair experience that only a convertible can provide.
Market Positioning: Ultra-Exclusive Territory
The ROCKET GTS is the absolute pinnacle of BRABUS high-end coachbuilding, and the convertible GTC variant continues this tradition. Brabus says it will build the newcomer to order with a suggested retail price of €697,800 (roughly $800,000) before taxes.
However, the real-world pricing tells a different story. In practice, the actual ticket price for the US is probably going to be even higher than that, with Brabus listing the price as being ‘on request’, presumably because of import duties and taxes. Most industry observers expect the final price to exceed $1 million for US customers.
The price makes the $225,000 Maybach SL look like an absolute steal, positioning the Rocket GTC in ultra-exclusive territory alongside brands like Koenigsegg and Pagani. This is some $115,000 less than the GTS hardtop variant, making it a relative bargain in the Rocket family.
The Rocket Legacy Continues
Today, the Rocket series sits at the very top of BRABUS’ lineup, above the brand’s G-Class configurations. The GTC Deep Red represents the evolution of a nameplate that has consistently pushed boundaries for nearly two decades.
The 4.5-liter V8 that powers it is the same one that was used for the G-Wagen 900 and the ‘original’ Rocket 1000, showcasing Brabus’s commitment to proven engineering excellence across their flagship models.
Conclusion: Redefining Open-Top Performance
The Brabus Rocket GTC Deep Red isn’t just a convertible supercar; it’s a technological tour de force that happens to have a removable roof. With a 2.6-second 0–62 mph sprint and a near-million-dollar price, this roofless carbon missile redefines open-top performance.
In a world where hypercars are increasingly becoming closed-cockpit affairs, the Rocket GTC Deep Red proves that ultimate performance and open-air motoring can coexist. It’s not just faster than it looks – it’s faster than most things on four wheels, period.
For those fortunate enough to afford entry into this exclusive club, the Rocket GTC Deep Red offers something truly unique: hypercar performance with the visceral experience of feeling every one of those 1,000 horses through the open cockpit. It’s automotive theater at its most dramatic, painted in a shade of red that matches its volcanic performance character.
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