There’s a special place in tuning heaven reserved for the likes of Brabus, the German tuner who has made a habit of turning ordinary - if you can even call them that - Mercedes models into pieces of technical and performance art. The latest example of this aftermarket wizardry comes in the form of the C 450 4MATIC, a sedan->ke142 that sits in one of the bottom rungs of Mercedes’->ke187 model hierarchy.

None of that matters, though, if the German tuner is in the equation. In typical Brabus->ke368 fashion, the aftermarket company has created an impressive new program that adds extensive modifications to the C 450 4MATIC’->ke1593s exterior, interior, and engine. As a result, you have a sedan that doesn’t feel like it’s the runt of the litter anymore.

Thanks to Brabus, the C 450 4MATIC has all of its claws out, ready to swing at anything that comes its way. This sense of empowerment is rarely seen in the aftermarket world, and yet, Brabus has made a habit of doing it with just about every Mercedes model it has worked on in the past.

That’s the cache that comes with being considered as the best in the block, something Brabus has been for Mercedes models for a long time now.

Continue reading to learn more about the Mercedes C 450 4MATIC By Brabus.

Exterior

Refinement is the key word here when describing the exterior modifications given by Brabus to the high-performing, four-wheel-drive C-Class. On the front sits a tailor-made front spoiler that can be attached to the sedan’s production bumper. This component features a central spoiler blade with outer sections shaped like racing flaps, providing an enhanced look to the front section of the C 450 4MATIC while also helping improve the downforce over the front axle.

It’s the same story at the back where a new rear diffuser is installed. As an added option, the German tuner is also offering a new rear spoiler that can be customized in different variants.

Rounding out the list of exterior upgrades is a new set of the tuner’s 19-inch Monoblock S wheels. The double-spoke alloy rims are wrapped in 225/40 ZR 19 tires in the front and 255/35 ZR 19 tires in the back.

Interior

Brabus has proven to be generous when it comes to interior appointments. As is often the case, the German tuner is leaving the customization up to the customer with a product range that offers plenty of accessories for the C 450 4MATIC. If a customer fancies something on the luxurious side, he can avail of fine leather and Alcantara to go with a choice of either wood trim sets or carbon fiber sets. The usual aftermarket tidbits like the new floor mats, aluminum pedals, or side sill plates with a backlit Brabus logo are also available for purchase.

Drivetrain

At the heart of this tuning program is Brabus’ new PowerXtra B30-410 plug-and-play tuning module that provides a newly calibrated mapping for injection and ignition into the C 450 4MATIC’s 3.0-liter twin-turbo V-6 engine. The result is a noticeable increase in output to 410 horsepower at 6,100 rpm and 420 pound-feet of torque at 3,700 rpm. That’s 43 ponies and 37 pound-feet of twist more than what the standard C 450 4MATIC has to offer.

With these upgrades in the mix, the C 450 4MATIC is expected to boast a 0-to-60-mph sprint time of just 4.6 seconds whereas the sedan’s top speed has also increased to 174 mph, thanks in large part to the elimination of the electronic speed limiter.

The numbers aren’t mind-blowing, especially for the lofty standards of Brabus. But, they are effective in squeezing some extra attitude out of the C 450 4MATIC, something we all know Brabus is an expert at when it comes to Mercedes models.

Prices

Pricing details are subject to inquiry, so if anybody’s interested in dressing up they C 450 4MATIC sedan, Brabus is as good a place as any to get that positively noteworthy aftermarket update. The German tuner is even offering its renowned tuning warranty of up to 62,000 miles for the tuning kit, ensuring that the aftermarket program will always be and remain in great condition.

Competition

BMW 3 Series by AC Schnitzer

Any talk of the Mercedes C-Class inevitably brings up comparisons with its fiercest rival, the BMW 3 Series. It just so happens that as recently as November 2015, noted BMW specialist AC Schnitzer released its own program for the 3er.

Similar to Brabus’ program for the C 45 4MATIC, AC Schnitzer’s kit for the 3 Series was made up of a few aerodynamic parts. The most notable bits included a front spoiler, carbon mirror cover, rear roof spoiler, and rear deck spoiler. AC Schnitzer also offered a few cosmetic goodies in the form of design stripes, a rear skirt protective film, and a variety of AC1 alloy wheel options ranging from 18-, 19-, and 20-inch sizes.

Engine upgrades are also available with this program, but since we’re talking about the C 45 4MATIC, the closest comp to it would be the 335i, which received its own performance bump to 360 ponies. It’s not as high as what Brabus got out of the Mercedes, but it’s still good enough to hold its own.

Read our full review here.

Audi S3 by ABT Sportsline

We’re continuing with our theme here of lining up the C 450 4MATIC with its direct competitors. This time, it’s the ABT Sportsline’s kit for the Audi S3. Just like SC Schnitzer’s program for the 3 Series, ABT opted to focus on the S3’s 2.0-liter inline-four engine. The tuner accomplished that through its own “New Generation" system, a state-of-the-art uprating system with its own control unit, to improve the S3’s output from 296 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque all the way up to 370 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque. The result of these modifications allowed the S3 to improve its 0 to 60 mph sprint time to 4.5 seconds. Top speed also went up to 165 mph, a 10-mph increase from the standard S3’s top speed of 155 mph.

Those are some meaty numbers that should give the C 45 4MATIC a run for its money.

In addition to the engine kit, ABT Sportsline also added a few exterior and interior bits, including fender inserts made from high-quality ABS plastic, integrated entrance lights, floor mats, and air caps. New DR wheels, measuring 18-, 19-, or 20-inch variants are also available in either Gun-Metal or Mystic-Black finish.

Read our full review here.

Conclusion

If you own a Mercedes and you want an aftermarket company to work on it, Brabus is where you want to go. The German tuner specializes on Mercedes to the point that some of its tuning kits have ended up scooping world records. That’s the extent of the expertise Brabus has when it comes to Mercedes models. Granted, this particular program for the C 450 4MATIC doesn’t even approach any of the Brabus Rockets we’ve seen in the past, but for as long as you understand that Brabus is responsible for this program, you can rest easy knowing that you’re in great hands. By and large, Brabus is one of the best - if not the best - Mercedes tuners in the world. You can take that to the bank.