Brabus has revealed one of the most outrageous grand tourers of the year, and it’s called the Bodo.
Built as a tribute to late company founder Bodo Buschmann, the €1 million hyper-GT combines a carbon-bodied redesign with a 1,000hp twin-turbo V12 and enough visual drama to make most modern supercars feel restrained.
The German tuning and coachbuilding specialist is best known for heavily modified Mercedes-Benz models, but the Bodo signals something far more ambitious.
Underneath sits the architecture of the current Aston Martin Vanquish, although you would struggle to mistake the two at first glance.
The Brabus receives entirely bespoke carbon-fibre bodywork, a squared-off front end, dramatic rear haunches and a low-slung silhouette that feels closer to a concept car than a production GT.
Chassis 01 arrives finished almost entirely in exposed black carbon, right down to the wheels and engine detailing, with subtle gold flakes woven into sections of the V12’s carbon trim.
Power comes from a 5.2-litre twin-turbocharged V12 producing 1,000hp and 885lb ft of torque, sent exclusively to the rear wheels through an eight-speed transaxle gearbox.
Despite weighing 1,910kg, Brabus claims the Bodo can dispatch 0-62mph in around three seconds before reaching a 224mph top speed.
In an era increasingly dominated by hybridised performance cars and downsized drivetrains, the Bodo feels intentionally excessive — a traditional full-fat GT with a huge combustion engine and no interest in subtlety.
The Aston Martin origins remain more obvious inside. The infotainment system, switchgear and overall cabin layout carry over from the donor car, although Brabus has reworked the materials extensively with new leather, exposed carbon trim and bespoke detailing throughout.
There’s also a panoramic glass roof and enough practicality for long-distance touring, reinforcing the Bodo’s positioning as a genuine grand tourer rather than a stripped-out hypercar.
Production will reportedly be capped at 77 examples, marking the year Brabus was founded in 1977. While the price tag sits north of €1 million before taxes and options, the Bodo reflects a growing shift within the company itself.
Brabus has gradually evolved from a traditional tuner into a manufacturer capable of creating low-volume coachbuilt vehicles with distinct identities, following projects such as the GTS Coupe and off-road-only Crawler.
The Bodo may still borrow its foundations from Aston Martin, but it points towards a future where Brabus increasingly stands on its own.
Gallery
Discover more from The Cars Daily
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
