BRABUS BODO Cabriolet (2027) – The 1,000-PS V12 Grand Tourer Goes Open-Air

BRABUS has taken its most ambitious coachbuilt project into a new dimension with the unveiling of the BRABUS BODO Cabriolet, an open-top 2+2 grand tourer created as a deeply personal tribute to company founder Bodo Buschmann. Following the introduction of the BODO Gran Turismo Coupe, the Cabriolet represents the next stage of a vision that Bodo Buschmann and his son Constantin had discussed for almost two decades: a large, powerful and unmistakably individual GT developed entirely around the BRABUS philosophy. Based on the architecture of the Aston Martin Vanquish but transformed through extensive in-house engineering and coachbuilding, the BODO Cabriolet combines a hand-crafted carbon-fibre body, active aerodynamics, a luxurious bespoke cabin and a heavily upgraded 5.2-litre twin-turbocharged V12. With 1,000 PS, 1,200 Nm of torque, a 0–100km/h time of 3.0 seconds and a 360km/h electronically limited top speed, it is one of the most extreme open-top grand tourers ever produced by the German specialist. Only 77 examples will be built worldwide, making the Cabriolet a highly exclusive continuation of BRABUS's increasingly ambitious move into coachbuilt automobiles.

A Coachbuilt Carbon-Fibre Body With Its Own Identity

Unlike conventional BRABUS conversions, the BODO Cabriolet is not simply an Aston Martin Vanquish with upgraded components and redesigned trim. The entire exterior body is manufactured from pre-preg carbon fibre, with BRABUS developing a substantially wider and longer silhouette around the underlying architecture. The distinctive front end features bespoke LED matrix headlights and a BRABUS grille containing 13 vertical slats, while large ram-air openings provide the V12 with additional airflow and separate cooling ducts channel air towards the brakes, water radiator and oil radiator. The long bonnet, dramatically sculpted rear quarters and broad stance give the Cabriolet the proportions of a modern coachbuilt grand tourer rather than a conventional high-performance convertible. At the rear, a multi-stage deployable carbon-fibre spoiler provides both aerodynamic assistance and air-braking capability, while the illuminated BRABUS logo sits between the slim LED taillights. The convertible roof itself is electrically operated and can be opened or closed in less than 15 seconds, allowing the BODO to transform from an elegant closed GT into a completely open-air V12 machine.

A 1,000-PS Twin-Turbo V12

Under the exceptionally long bonnet sits the heart of the BODO Cabriolet: a comprehensively modified 5.2-litre twin-turbocharged V12 derived from the Aston Martin Vanquish. BRABUS has fitted the engine with a specially developed ram-air intake system, high-efficiency charge-air cooling and two bespoke turbochargers, while a stainless-steel exhaust system with four titanium exhaust tips provides the soundtrack expected from such an extravagant machine. The resulting output reaches 735kW / 1,000 PS at 6,400rpm, accompanied by a monumental 1,200Nm of torque. Power is transmitted exclusively to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission and electronically controlled differential, preserving the traditional grand-tourer layout while giving the BODO the traction necessary to deploy its immense output. BRABUS quotes a 0–100km/h sprint of 3.0 seconds, 0–200km/h in 8.5 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 360km/h, placing the Cabriolet firmly within supercar territory despite its luxurious 2+2 configuration.

Open-Air Performance With Serious Chassis Hardware

The BODO Cabriolet's performance is supported by a sophisticated chassis designed to combine high-speed stability with the comfort expected from a grand tourer. A double-wishbone front suspension works with a multi-link rear arrangement, while electronically controlled adaptive aluminium dampers supplied by KW allow the suspension to alter its characteristics according to driving conditions. A front-and-rear lift system is also included, providing additional ground clearance when negotiating steep entrances or urban obstacles. The car rides on imposing 22-inch BRABUS Monoblock forged wheels wrapped in bespoke Pirelli P Zero tyres, while six-piston brake calipers at all four corners provide the stopping power required to repeatedly slow a car capable of reaching 360km/h. Active aerodynamic technology further enhances the Cabriolet's high-speed behaviour, with the rear spoiler able to deploy progressively and automatically transform into an air brake during heavy deceleration.

A Handcrafted BRABUS Masterpiece Interior

Inside, the BODO Cabriolet continues the company's emphasis on bespoke craftsmanship rather than simply replacing the donor car's interior with conventional aftermarket components. The BRABUS Masterpiece cabin is configured as a 2+2 environment and features extensive leatherwork, intricate BRABUS “Shell” quilting and carefully selected metallic and carbon-fibre detailing. The bespoke treatment extends beyond the seats and dashboard, with the same design language appearing across the cockpit floor, rear deck, luggage compartment, floor mats and trunk lining. BRABUS offers customers extensive freedom to personalise virtually every aspect of the cabin, meaning individual examples can be configured around highly specific colour and material combinations. Each vehicle is also supplied with matching leather-trimmed keys and a bespoke BRABUS Weekender bag, while a blockchain-based Digital Product Passport integrated into the vehicle's BRABUS Spec Plate records authenticity, ownership and specification information.

The “77” Tribute To Bodo Buschmann

One of the most meaningful details of the BODO Cabriolet is its repeated use of the number 77, which references the year Bodo Buschmann founded BRABUS. The motif appears discreetly throughout the vehicle, including on the rear of the body and within the fabric of the convertible roof. Particularly striking is the special Jacquard soft top offered in the Silk Stone specification, where the inverted “77” design is woven directly into the structural fabric rather than simply printed onto its surface. BRABUS says this construction provides a tactile three-dimensional effect while maintaining resistance against ultraviolet exposure, abrasion and the repeated folding cycles expected from a high-performance convertible. The production figure also carries the same significance, with exactly 77 BODO Cabriolets planned worldwide as a separate limited series from the 77-unit BODO Gran Turismo Coupe.

A New Direction For BRABUS

The BODO Cabriolet represents a particularly important step for BRABUS because it demonstrates how far the company has moved beyond its traditional identity as a Mercedes-Benz tuning specialist. The BODO programme is the firm's first genuinely scratch-built coachbuilt vehicle, with the company developing its own carbon-fibre bodywork, bespoke aerodynamics and extensive mechanical modifications around an Aston Martin foundation. BRABUS CEO Constantin Buschmann has described the project as both the fulfilment of a dream shared with his father and an opportunity to create a vehicle with a completely independent identity. That makes the BODO different from the company's familiar power upgrades and WIDESTAR conversions: it is effectively a BRABUS-designed grand tourer that happens to use the Aston Martin Vanquish as its technical starting point. The Cabriolet takes that philosophy further by introducing an open cockpit while retaining the dramatic proportions, extreme performance and luxurious character of the original BODO.

Final Thoughts

The 2027 BRABUS BODO Cabriolet is arguably one of the boldest projects ever undertaken by the German tuning and coachbuilding specialist. Its combination of a carbon-fibre coachbuilt body, electrically operated soft top, 1,000-PS twin-turbo V12, rear-wheel drive and 360km/h top speed creates an unusual blend of grand-tourer elegance and supercar performance. Yet the BODO's importance extends beyond its numbers. The project represents the realisation of a long-held vision from Bodo Buschmann and his son, while simultaneously establishing a new direction for BRABUS as a manufacturer of highly exclusive, individually commissioned automobiles. With just 77 Cabriolets to be produced, extensive BRABUS Masterpiece personalisation and a starting price of approximately US$1.24 million, the BODO Cabriolet is aimed squarely at collectors who want something far removed from the conventional luxury convertible. It is not merely a BRABUS conversion with the roof removed—it is the open-air expression of a completely new chapter for the brand.

SOURCE: BRABUS OFFICIAL WEBSITE

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