BRABUS ROCKET GTC DEEP RED 2026 : The Wild Return of the Convertible Hyper GT
When Brabus first unveiled the Rocket GTS, enthusiasts scratched their heads and smiled at the same time. It was an audacious shooting brake born from the Mercedes-AMG SL, reshaped into what the Germans themselves jokingly referred to as a “clown shoe” but with hypercar-level performance. That car represented Brabus at its most playful—taking a luxurious roadster and giving it a roofline that turned practicality and flamboyance into one wild package. Now, the tuning powerhouse has decided to reverse its own logic. At Monterey Car Week 2025, Brabus introduced the Rocket GTC, a hyper gran turismo cabriolet that essentially transforms the shooting brake back into a convertible, only now even more extreme. This move is both ironic and brilliant: the SL was originally born a cabrio, then Brabus made it a shooting brake, and now it’s once again open-topped, but with a visual and mechanical ferocity unlike anything Mercedes-AMG itself could have imagined. It is, in every sense, Brabus’ ultimate statement of what happens when luxury, performance, and pure absurdity collide. The Rocket GTC is not just an SL without a roof—it’s an open-air hyper GT reimagined in full carbon, with one of the most outrageous performance figures ever seen in a drop-top.
The Design: Carbon Fiber as Couture
One of the defining characteristics of the Rocket GTC is its uncompromising use of carbon fiber—not just as a lightweight performance material, but as an expression of design itself. Brabus’ prepreg autoclave carbon construction ensures that every panel is both feather-light and razor-sharp in detail, but the visual drama comes from the decision to expose the weave and finish it in a deep red lacquer. This “Deep Red” carbon exterior isn’t a wrap or paint—it’s the carbon itself shining through with a metallic tint, creating a shimmering effect under light that instantly tells you this is no ordinary SL. The Rocket GTC is wide, low, and impossibly aggressive. At the front, the splitter and oversized intakes dominate, channelling airflow into radiators and brakes while providing crucial downforce. The arches are swollen, swallowing enormous wheels that feature aerodynamic carbon blades. Along the sides, sculpted sills direct air toward the vast rear quarters, where the car flares to an outrageous 198.5 cm width. At the rear, Brabus gives the GTC its trademark ducktail spoiler, accompanied by an integrated diffuser and four titanium tailpipes that glow red in their carbon housings. It’s not just flamboyance—it’s functional flamboyance, tuned in the wind tunnel for stability at nearly 200 mph.
The Heart of the Rocket: Brabus’ 1,000 Horsepower Hybrid V8
Beneath the carbon-fiber hood lies the true soul of the Rocket GTC: the Brabus Rocket 1000 hybrid drivetrain. Brabus starts with AMG’s already bonkers SL63 S E Performance powertrain, but instead of settling for the factory’s 805 horsepower, they increase displacement to 4.5 liters, engineer a bespoke crankshaft, forged pistons, and a pair of specially developed turbochargers. The result? A twin-turbo V8 producing 796 hp on its own, paired with a 204 hp electric motor for a combined system output of 1,000 hp. Torque is similarly outrageous at 1,820 Nm (1,342 lb-ft), though Brabus electronically reins it in to 1,620 Nm (1,195 lb-ft) to prevent the drivetrain from disintegrating under full load. The numbers translate to breathtaking acceleration: 0–100 km/h (62 mph) in 2.6 seconds, 0–200 km/h in 9.5 seconds, and a top speed electronically capped at 317 km/h (197 mph). These figures make the Rocket GTC one of the fastest convertibles ever created, rivaling purpose-built hypercars despite its roots as a grand tourer. Importantly, Brabus has not ignored the aural experience: its valve-controlled stainless steel exhaust allows the driver to switch between a subdued “Coming Home” mode and an earth-shaking V8 roar.
Wheels, Suspension, and the Brabus Touch
The Rocket GTC rides on Brabus’ Monoblock P “Platinum Edition” wheels, forged for strength yet light enough to aid performance. At the front, 21-inch rims are paired with 275/35 ZR 21 Continental SportContact 7 tires, while the rear receives 22-inch wheels wrapped in massive 335/25 ZR 22 rubber. Each wheel incorporates carbon aero-blades designed to channel hot air out of the brakes, ensuring cooling efficiency even under high load. The stance of the Rocket GTC is emphasized by height-adjustable Brabus sport springs, allowing the car to sit 10–20 mm lower than the standard SL, further lowering its center of gravity and sharpening handling. With all-wheel drive and an electronically controlled nine-speed gearbox, the Rocket GTC has the hardware to harness its monstrous power. Brabus’ engineering doesn’t stop at brute force—they also refine braking systems, suspension geometry, and aerodynamics to ensure that this open-top beast is as composed on mountain switchbacks as it is stable at autobahn velocities. The end result is a machine that lives up to its “hyper GT” billing: comfortable enough to cross continents in style, but explosive enough to demolish lap times if unleashed on a track.
The Interior: A Masterpiece in Deep Red
Inside, the Rocket GTC is nothing short of a rolling atelier. Brabus’ interior artisans have handcrafted every surface in fine leather dyed to perfectly match the Deep Red carbon exterior. The seats, armrests, door panels, and even the floor mats are quilted in the Brabus “Shell” pattern, with repeated embossed Brabus Double-B logos providing subtle texture. The effect is dramatic, almost decadent—everywhere you look, there’s leather, from the dashboard to the trunk lining. Contrasting carbon-fiber elements are used throughout the cockpit, from the steering wheel inserts to the illuminated door sills, while subtle “Rocket GTC” logos add exclusivity. Even the smallest details, like the pedals, air vent surrounds, and speaker grilles, are treated in matte “Shadow Gray” to complement the red leather and carbon. With the roof down, the interior becomes an even bolder statement—an unapologetically flamboyant environment that exudes confidence and luxury. While most performance cars lean toward minimalism, Brabus doubles down on extravagance, proving that a hyper GT can be both devastatingly fast and unapologetically opulent. This is not a stripped-out racer—it’s a supercar that wears a tailored suit of carbon and leather.
Performance Meets Theatrics: The Driving Experience
The Rocket GTC is designed to deliver thrills not just through numbers, but through sensation. Launch control delivers brutal acceleration, pinning occupants to their seats while the exhaust provides a soundtrack that oscillates between deep thunder and metallic shriek. The hybrid system ensures instant torque delivery, with the electric motor filling gaps in the V8’s powerband for seamless thrust. Unlike many open-top cars, stability is not sacrificed—Brabus’ aero package keeps the car planted at triple-digit speeds, and the adaptive suspension ensures composure even on less-than-perfect roads. Yet, what makes the GTC remarkable is its dual personality. In Comfort mode, it can cruise as a luxurious GT, cocooning occupants in leather and effortlessly devouring miles. Switch to Sport or Race mode, and the car transforms into a track-ready monster capable of humiliating exotics from Ferrari, Lamborghini, or McLaren. It’s this blend of ferocity and luxury that makes the Rocket GTC so unique—it’s not just a fast cabrio, but a fully realized hyper GT that refuses to compromise. Brabus has essentially created a car that is as much theater as it is machine, designed to shock, awe, and dominate in equal measure.
Exclusivity, Customization, and the Brabus Philosophy
Brabus has always catered to clients who see cars not just as transportation, but as personal statements of identity and power. The Rocket GTC is no exception. Each car is built to order, with clients able to customize every detail—from exterior finishes to interior materials, stitching patterns, and even small trim pieces. The Deep Red theme shown at Monterey is just one possible configuration; Brabus’ “Masterpiece” interior program allows nearly endless personalization, limited only by imagination and budget. Exclusivity is part of the Rocket GTC’s DNA—Brabus does not mass-produce such machines. Instead, each unit is handcrafted, making every example as individual as its owner. This philosophy ties into the broader Brabus identity: the company is not just a tuner, but a coachbuilder, pushing the limits of what Mercedes platforms can become. The Rocket GTC epitomizes this ethos—it’s wild, unnecessary, and extravagant, yet undeniably desirable. For collectors and enthusiasts, owning one isn’t just about speed; it’s about possessing an artifact of excess, a car that symbolizes engineering bravado and aesthetic daring.
Conclusion: The Pinnacle of Open-Top Excess
The Brabus Rocket GTC is more than just a convertible SL. It is, in every way, a statement piece—an open-top hyper GT that defies convention and pushes the boundaries of what’s possible in both performance and design. With its 1,000-horsepower hybrid drivetrain, full carbon bodywork, extravagant interior, and outrageous presence, it occupies a rarefied space where luxury and insanity coexist. For Brabus, it represents the culmination of their Rocket lineage, evolving from coupe to shooting brake to convertible, each iteration more extreme than the last. For the automotive world, it’s a reminder that excess still has a place, that cars can still shock us with their audacity. In an era increasingly dominated by restraint, electrification, and efficiency, the Rocket GTC stands proudly as a defiant outlier—loud, powerful, flamboyant, and utterly unashamed of what it is. It may not be practical, it may not even be necessary, but it is undeniably spectacular. And in the end, that’s exactly what a Brabus Rocket is meant to be: a car born not from compromise, but from the sheer joy of going too far.
