To pull it off, the Brabus crew stuck with its tried and true formula of shoving entirely too much engine into a small package. Underneath the vented hood lies a Mercedes-sourced V12 that’s been stroked from 5.5- to 6.3-liters. From there, the Bottrop boys fit a duo of turbos, two intercoolers, a couple high-flow cats and a stainless steel exhaust. The effect is typical Brabus: A staggering 740 horsepower and 995 pound-feet of torque, which is actually limited to 811 lb-ft (at 2,100 rpm) to avoid the gearbox, diff and rear tires from vaporizing in an oily, metallic haze. And naturally, the absurdity doesn’t stop with the engine.

Twelve-piston front calipers clamp onto 15-inch discs, with six-piston calipers and 14.2-inch rotors in the rear, while a height adjustable coilover suspension with ten settings for bound and rebound join 22-inch wheels wrapped in a choice of Pirelli or Yokohama rubber. The exterior and interior have been restyled to match, and while Merc’s diminutive ‘ute isn’t exactly a beauty queen to begin with, Brabus’ blocky aftermarket brutalization lends itself well to the GLK’s squat proportions.

But aesthetics aside, there’s a bigger problem. Actually, there are 397,000 of ‘em. That’s how many euros you’ll need for the GLK V12. For that kind of scratch ($580,000 using a straight conversion), there’s a host of high-power exotica available.

And when you consider the GLK’s sprinting stats — 0-60 in 4.2 seconds and 124 mph in 12.8 ticks — the far less expensive BMW X5 M is easily on par and was actually designed from the onset to be an offensively quick grocery-getter. Then again, the M can’t break the double-century mark at Nardo… something to consider during your trip to Costco. Press release below the fold.

When the next generation C-Class rolls out in 2014, German production will be consolidated at Daimler’s Bremen factory while units for the North American market will be built in the U.S. There’s been no announcement about where production will take place, but an expansion of the SUV factory in Alabama is one possibility. On a related side note, part of the reason the Premium German brands have recently avoided selling four-cylinder versions of their entry-level models in the States has been the exchange rates and the associated lack of profitability.

With new CAFE rules coming, it’s likely that we’ll be seeing more moves like this in the next several years.

Brabus is also offering other modifications for the E63 AMG as well, including a carbon fiber aero kit, wheels in 18 to 20-inch sizes, and various interior trim pieces like stainless-steel scuff plates, a new 225 mph speedometer, and wood or carbon fiber inlays. For the most part ,we’d skip the visual bits and stick with the engine upgrades. Hit the jump for full details in press release, or check out the high-res gallery below courtesy of Brabus.

The Berlin-based tuner has been dreaming up how it could butcher the gullwing’s lines, and from the looks of things, they’ve done a bang-up job. First thing you notice is the nose – you could hardly miss it – that apparently attempts to bring the preceding SLR McLaren’s F1-inspired treatment back. But MEC hasn’t stopped there. The full aero kit includes side skirts with integrated exterior lighting. The rear end fits in a spoiler, chrome tailpipes and a new diffuser. There are comically oversized and blinged-out rims. And they’ve theoretically fitted a carbon and Alcantara steering wheel.

And that’s where the sigh of relief comes in. Thankfully, MEC Design hasn’t actually gotten its hands on an actual SLS to perform these mods. And for the sake of everything we hold dear, we hope they never do.

Those meek and humble high-level public servants in need of special protection—Mercedes is primarily targeting government leaders and royalty, although captains of industry are also welcome to fill out an order slip—don’t need to hang on to their armored and stretched last-generation S-class anymore. At the Paris auto show, the company launched the S600 Pullman Guard, a long-wheelbase, high-protection version of the current W221 S-class.

The only engine offered here is the 5.5-liter, twin-turbocharged V-12 mated to a five-speed automatic and producing a full 510 horsepower. This torque monster—612 lb-ft is on tap between 1900 and 3500 rpm—should propel the S600 Pullman Guard with alacrity despite its additional weight, which we estimate to be as much as two tons above that of a regular S600.

The conversion of the S600 into a Pullman Guard was handled by the company itself, and for a limousine, it is well-executed. A taller and differently raked rear window and an elevated roof help achieve a shape that won’t win beauty contests but is among the more harmonious of stretched limousines. Its extra 45 inches of length brings the Pullman to a total length of nearly 21 feet.

This high-level limousine is factory-equipped with an electroluminescent partition that can become opaque by the flick of a button. A rear air-conditioning system is standard, as is a 19-inch monitor and a rear seat arrangement consisting of four seats placed in a face-to-face position. Even the refrigerator is included.

The lower of two protection levels, dubbed “High Protection,” is sufficient to keep you safe from large-caliber handgun ammunition. “Highest Protection” is a package available only on the S600 Guard—Maybachs can be outfitted with “High Protection”—and it is designed to protect you from shrapnel originating from hand grenades and explosive charges, as well as rifle-launched projectiles from military weapons.

All S600 Pullman Guard models are produced in Mercedes’ home plant in Sindelfingen. Why choose this model over armored conversions offered by the aftermarket? “Aftermarket companies have to add armoring inside, thus diminishing interior space,” says a Mercedes spokesman. Mercedes places the armoring between different sheets of the body shell, and this can only be properly done on the production line, he explains.

The company expects production volumes in the two-digits annually. No pricing info has been distributed, but you can likely count on paying between $700,000 and $1,000,000 for one of these, depending on your specific needs. Modesty, it seems, has its price.