German tuner Brabus->ke561 is taking a different approach with its latest special-edition program for Mercedes->ke187: it's taking it to the east, specifically in China.

Meet the Brabus 60 S Dragon Edition, which is a super-modified Mercedes S 600->ke359 that pays homage to the largest auto market in the world. Not all that surprising to see Brabus take this step, considering that a lot of aftermarket companies are taking their talents and high-priced upgrades to China->ke2090.

So now it's Brabus' turn to hit China and to its credit, it served up quite a treat for its customers in the east, decking Mercedes' flagship luxury sedan with a host of unique upgrades, including a massive engine boost and plenty of golden dragon emblems.

Nothing validates a car being called Dragon Edition more than having a huge emblem of the mythical creature prominently displayed in the front grille of the car.

Click past the jump to read more about the Brabus 60 S Dragon Edition

2013 Brabus 60 S Dragon Edition

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2013 Brabus 60 S Dragon Edition
  • Engine/Motor: V12
  • Horsepower: 730
  • Torque: 973
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

Nothing too drastic was done to alter the overall shape of the S 600, which means that unless it somehow transforms into a dragon, the car's overall body and shape remains intact. But what separates this special-edition S-Class from the rest of its keep is the Brabus body kit that incorporates a number of design modifications, including on the front and rear fascias and the wheel arches.

Not surprisingly, the car does have a unique golden dragon emblem emphatically adorning the front grille with another, albeit slightly smaller, emblem prominently featured on both side skirts. Likewise, a dragon vinyl can then be found just behind the front wheels.

Interior

Any questions on why Brabus named this special S 600 the Dragon Edition is emphatically answered by the interior, which features a steady dose of brown leather upholstery with golden accents. That brown cow hide is actually prominently displayed throughout the cabin, including on the dashboard and the steering wheel, replacing the gold accents instead with black accents.

Keeping with the main these, the dragons are also alive and well inside the cabin, happily displaying themselves on all five seats, including a pair of golden dragon emblems in the headrests.

Performance

Anytime a special edition model has the name Brabus attached to it, you can expect some significant power upgrades. The Brabus 60 S Dragon Edition is no different, thanks in large part to an uprated 6.3-liter V-12 engine that produces a fire-breathing 730 horsepower and an electronically limited 811 pound-feet of torque. Once you take out the electronic limitation, that number bumps up to 973 pound-feet of torque.

Performance numbers suggest that this fire-breathing S-Class can hit 60 mph in just under 4 seconds with a top speed of about 211 mph.

Pricing

No pricing has been given on the Brabus 60 S Dragon Edition, but rest assured, we'll have all the numbers once it becomes available.

Competition

It would be easy to just prance out the Audi A8 and the BMW 7 Series as the two likely competitors for the Mercedes S-Class. However, seeing as this is a special-edition model that's exclusive to the Chinese market, it'd be cooler to line it up against similar models. And by similar, we mean other China-exclusive models.

Audi R8 V10 China Edition

Introduced late last year and limited to just 80 units, the R8 V10 China Edition also came with its share of Chinese-inspired design cues. The most noticeable was the inclusion of the characters "R8 专享” to go with the model number embedded on the aluminum gear lever knob. The number "4" was also removed to "respect the cultural habit of Chinese customers”.

Power comes from a 5.2-liter V-10 engine that produces 525 horsepower and 530 pound-feet of torque, which is good enough to propel the car from 0 to 60 mph time in just 3.9 seconds with a top speed of 196 mph.

Ferrari 458 Italia China Special Edition

Built and developed to celebrate the Chinese Year of the Dragon last year, the Ferrari 458 Italia China Special Edition carried its own unique Chinese qualities. The most striking of the Chinese qualities is the unique livery inspired by the longma theme, which is an old Chinese idiom which means "the vigor and spirit of the legendary dragon-horse." These elements include a golden dragon on the front bonnet, which is offset by gold and black livery stripes symbolizing a racing track.

The 458 Italia China Special Edition is powered by a 4.5-liter V-8 engine that develops 562 horsepower and 398 pound-feet of torque, allowing the Italian stallion to hit 60 mph in 3.4 seconds with a top speed of 201 mph. Sure, it is faster than the Brabus, but nowhere near as comfortable.

Conclusion

The Brabus 60 S Dragon Edition is a winner on all fronts. Brabus did a masterful job giving the luxury sedan enough aesthetic changes without going overboard. The dragon emblems are a nice touch, too, as is the massive performance boost given to the engine.