217 mph with the top down? You can do it in Brabus’ 850 6.0 Biturbo Cabrio

By Stephen Edelstein Published June 20, 2016

Who doesn’t love superlatives? Going very fast in an open-topped car is only amusing up to a point, and that point is usually when the velocity and wind buffeting starts rearranging your face. Big power is impressive, until you start contemplating how few places there are to actually unleash it. Still, everyone wants to be “fastest” and “most powerful.”

Brabus certainly does. The company known for turning Mercedes-Benz models into hellacious hot rods claims to have built the world’s fastest and most powerful four-seat convertible. Unveiled at the 24 Hours of Le Mans over the weekend, it’s called the Brabus 850 6.0 Biturbo Cabrio, and it’s based on the already-potent Mercedes-AMG S63 Cabriolet.

To make its monster convertible, Brabus increased the displacement of the twin-turbocharged V8 from 5.5 liters to 5.9 liters, and fitted a new crankshaft, cylinder heads, forged pistons, connecting rods, intake module, exhaust system, and turbos. The result is 838 horsepower and 848 pound-feet of torque, a massive increase over the stock car’s 577 hp and 664 pound-feet of torque. Brabus claims the engine actually makes 1,069 lb-ft, but that it had to be electronically limited in the interest of longevity.

All of that power is sent to all four wheels through a seven-speed automatic transmission, just like in the stock S63 Cabriolet. Brabus claims the 850 6.0 Biturbo Cabrio will do 0 to 62 mph in 3.5 seconds, and reach a top speed of 217 mph. That means this full-size, four-seat luxury convertible has the same top speed as a McLaren P1. The Hennessey Venom GT Spyder and Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse will go faster, but they only have removable roof panels, not convertible tops.

Besides souping up the engine, Brabus added a complete carbon-fiber body kit and 21-inch forged wheels, and lowered the ride height by 0.6 inch. The interior is also fully redone, with added carbon fiber, aluminum, and Brabus logos. Carbon-fiber trim pieces replace the stock wood, and Brabus fitted its own aluminum paddle shifters and pedals.

Brabus won’t discuss pricing, but don’t expect this much speed and power to come cheap. Before you even get to writing a check to the tuner, you’ll need to shell out around $180,000 for an S63 AMG Cabriolet donor car.

Topics

Stephen Edelstein

Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

Cars

Jeep Compass EV breaks cover—but will it come to the U.S.?

jeep compass ev us newjeepcompassfirsteditionhawaii 4

Jeep just pulled the wraps off the all-new Compass EV, and while it’s an exciting leap into the electric future, there's a catch—it might not make it to the U.S. anytime soon.
This is a brand new electric version of the Jeep Compass, and being built on Stellantis' STLA platform—the same architecture underpinning models like the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008—it looks much slicker and packs a lot more inside than previous versions of the Compass.
Let’s start with what’s cool: the new Compass EV is packing up to 404 miles of range on a single charge, a 74 kWh battery, and fast-charging that gets you from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Not bad for a compact SUV with Jeep's badge on the nose.
There are two versions: a front-wheel-drive model with 213 horsepower and a beefier all-wheel-drive version with 375 horsepower. That AWD setup isn’t just for looks—it can handle 20% inclines even without front traction, and comes with extra ground clearance and better off-road angles. In short, it’s still a Jeep.
The design's been refreshed too, and inside you’ll find the kind of tech and comfort you’d expect in a modern EV—sleek, smart, and ready for both city streets and dirt trails.
But here’s the thing: even though production starts soon in Italy, Jeep hasn’t said whether the Compass EV is coming to America. And the signs aren’t promising.
Plans to build it in Canada were recently put on hold, with production now delayed until at least early 2026. Some of that might have to do with possible U.S. tariffs on Canadian and Mexican vehicles—adding a layer of uncertainty to the whole rollout.
According to Kelley Blue Book, a Stellantis spokesperson confirmed that the company has “temporarily paused work on the next-generation Jeep Compass, including activities at” the Canadian plant that was originally meant to build the model. They added that Stellantis is “reassessing its product strategy in North America” to better match customer needs and demand for different powertrain options.
So while Europe and other markets are gearing up to get the Compass EV soon, American drivers might be left waiting—or miss out entirely.
That’s a shame, because on paper, this electric Jeep hits a lot of sweet spots. Let’s just hope it finds a way over here.

Cars

Tesla just scrapped the Cybertruck range extender

Tesla CEO Elon Musk behind the wheel of a Cybertruck.

The writing was pretty much on the wall for the Cybertruck range extender last month when Tesla removed the option from its website. Now, it’s officially scrapped it and is refunding the $2,000 deposits that customers put down for the $16,000 battery pack.

“We are no longer planning to sell the range extender for Cybertruck," Tesla said in a message to customers on Wednesday, adding, "As a result, we will be refunding your deposit in full.”

Cars

Zoox recalls robotaxis after Las Vegas crash, citing software fix

Amazon's self-driving vehicle unit, Zoox, has issued a voluntary safety recall after one of its autonomous vehicles was involved in a minor collision in Las Vegas. The incident, which occurred in April 2025, led the company to investigate and identify a software issue affecting how the robotaxi anticipates another vehicle’s path.
The recall, affecting 270 Zoox-built vehicles, was formally filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Zoox said the issue has already been addressed through a software update that was remotely deployed to its fleet.
Zoox’s robotaxis, which operate without driving controls like a steering wheel or pedals, are part of Amazon’s entry into the autonomous driving space. According to Zoox’s safety recall report, the vehicle failed to yield to oncoming traffic while making an unprotected left turn, leading to a low-speed collision with a regular passenger car. While damage was minor, the event raised flags about the system’s behavior in complex urban scenarios.
Establishing safety and reliability remain key factors in the deployment of the relatively new autonomous ride-hailing technology. Alphabet-owned Waymo continues to lead the sector in both safety and operational scale, with services active in multiple cities including Phoenix and San Francisco. But GM’s Cruise and Ford/VW-backed Argo AI were forced to abandon operations over the past few years.
Tesla is also expected to enter the robotaxi race with the launch of its own service in June 2025, leveraging its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software. While FSD has faced heavy regulatory scrutiny through last year, safety regulations are expected to loosen under the Trump administration.
Zoox, which Amazon acquired in 2020, says it issued the recall voluntarily as part of its commitment to safety. “It’s essential that we remain transparent about our processes and the collective decisions we make,” the company said in a statement.