The Four-Door V12 Biturbo Stealth Super Sports Car With 730 hp (720 hp SAE net), 1,320 Nm (974 lb-ft), 0 - 300 km/h (186 mph) in 24.5 seconds and a Top Speed of More than 360 km/h (225 mph)

Ultra powerful, ultra fast and conspicuously inconspicuous: The four-door stealth super sports car BRABUS BULLIT BLACK ARROW offers performance superlatives like no other car on the market: The basis for the car is the body of the new C-Class sedan, covered with a special matte-black coating. The BRABUS SV12 S Biturbo twelve-cylinder engine was dropped into the engine bay with almost surgical precision. Performance is staggering: 3.9 seconds from rest to 100 km/h (62 mph), 24.5 seconds for 0 - 300 km/h (186 mph) and a top speed of more than 360 km/h (225 mph). BRABUS (Brabus-Allee, D-46240 Bottrop, phone + 49 / (0) 2041 / 777-0, fax + 49 / (0) 2041 / 777 111, Internet www.brabus.com) produces the BULLIT BLACK ARROW in small-series production starting at 348,000 Euros MSRP.

The BRABUS BULLIT BLACK ARROW ensures that the world's fastest sedans continue to come from Bottrop. The BRABUS BULLIT BLACK ARROW follows in the footsteps of the 330-km/h (206 mph) BRABUS E V12 based on the W 210-series Mercedes E-Class, the 350.2-km/h (219 mph) E V12 Biturbo of the new W 211 generation and the world's current fastest sedan, the 365.7- km/h (227.2 mph) BRABUS ROCKET based on the Mercedes CLS.

Numerous modifications to the reinforced body were necessary to install the turbocharged V12 engine in the C-Class engine bay. The BRABUS SV12 S Biturbo engine is derived directly from the BRABUS ROCKET and uses the latest Mercedes S 600 engine that has been completely reworked in the company-own engine building shop.

Nothing beats displacement except even more displacement: A crankshaft with longer stroke, larger cylinder bore, and special pistons and piston rods increase displacement of the twelve-cylinder three-valve engine from 5.5 to 6.3 liters (336 to 385 cu. in.).

Cylinder heads optimized for faster gas exchange and high-performance camshafts also contribute to the increase in power output. They are assisted by a more efficient dual turbocharging system, special manifolds, larger turbochargers and larger intercoolers. Because of space constraints in the C-Class body an entirely new stainless-steel high-performance exhaust system with low back-pressure metal catalysts had to be developed.

The BRABUS motor engineers used state-of-the-art engine test benches to program new mapping for engine electronics and on-board diagnostics. The new mapping ensures optimal power yield while meeting strict EURO IV emission limits.

The BRABUS SV12 S Biturbo displacement engine, lubricated like all BRABUS high-performance engines with ARAL Synthetic motor oil, produces 730 hp (720 hp SAE net) / 537 kW at just 5,100 rpm. The peak torque of 1,320 Nm (974 lb-ft) is limited in-car electronically to 1,100 Nm (811 lb-ft).

Power is transferred to the rear wheels via a reinforced five-speed automatic transmission and a BRABUS limited-slip differential with a locking rate of 40 percent. Customers can choose from two final drive ratios. The BRABUS BULLIT BLACK ARROW features all modern driving dynamics systems such as ABS, ASR and ESP.

The matte-black stealth street rocket delivers unique performance: Just 3.9 seconds pass for the sprint from 0 - 100 km/h (62 mph), 200 km/h (124 mph) is reached after just 10.49 seconds. And after just 24.5 seconds the car shatters the 300-km/h barrier (186 mph). Top speed is more than 360 km/h (225 mph).

At these speeds favorable aerodynamic properties are absolutely essential. The BRABUS BULLIT BLACK ARROW was honed to perfection in the wind tunnel. The BULLIT front apron features large air ducts to supply cooling air for radiators and front brakes. Its sophisticated design further reduces lift on the front axle. Its aerodynamic counterparts in the rear are a three-piece rear spoiler and a rear apron with integrated diffuser. Both front and rear aprons are made from especially light yet highly robust autoclave-baked carbon fiber.

A wider track optimizes directional stability so elementary at speeds beyond 300 km/h. The BRABUS designers have styled aluminum wheel arch flares for front and rear axle. They are seamlessly melded to the production body and add six centimeters (2.4 inches) to the C-Class width. BRABUS rocker panels optimize the airstream along the sides. They also feature integrated entry lights that make entering and exiting the vehicle safer in the dark.

The visual appearance of the BRABUS BULLIT BLACK ARROW is further characterized by the new aluminum hood. Its integrated 'gills' are not just distinctive features, they also ensure the engine's thermal health.

The wheel arch flares provide space for especially wide matte-black BRABUS Monoblock S light-alloy wheels with high-performance tires from technology partners YOKOHAMA or Pirelli. The 9.5Jx19 wheels on the front axle are shod with size 265/30 ZR 19 tires. The rear axle is fitted with size 10Jx19 wheels and size 285/30 ZR 19 tires.

The height-adjustable coil-over suspension was developed specifically for the BRABUS BULLIT BLACK ARROW. The gas-pressure shocks feature ten selectable settings each for bound and rebound. They provide a sporty yet comfortable ride and safe handling in any situation. Sport stabilizers reduces body roll to a minimum during fast cornering.

The BRABUS high-performance brake system can handle even the most extreme stress. It features 12-piston aluminum fixed calipers on the front axle that grip vented and grooved 380 x 37 millimeter (15 x 1.46 inches) brake discs. The rear axle stops with 360 x 28 millimeter (14.2 x 1.1 inches) discs and six-piston aluminum fixed calipers.

Exclusive individuality also abounds in the interior of the BRABUS automobile: The standard equipment package includes a fully leather interior hand-crafted in the company-own upholstery shop from the finest Mastik and Nubuk leathers.

The custom BULLIT seats offer a perfect combination of comfort and lateral support. Their carbon-fiber rear covers lend the interior an especially sporty feel. This look is complemented by carbon-fiber components on dashboard, center console and door panels as well as by the ergonomically shaped sport steering wheel and aluminum pedals and shifter.

[BRABUS]

All we can figure is that someone at Chrysler really, really liked the Arrow name and decided to apply it to any vehicle that would hold still long enough to get the plastic emblems glued to its flanks.


Not that it matters much, since the Arrow name was dropped by '82 and all the rebadged Fortes were sold as Dodge Ram 50s after that. Meanwhile, Mitsubishi started importing them as Mighty Maxes.


Anyway, as a rear-wheel-drive Japanese small pickup truck with the Astron four-banger under the hood, the Arrow truck was a pretty decent machine, regardless of head-clutching branding confusion.

In the shops back in England, work was progressing on a long, low spike of steely resolve called the Golden Arrow. Segrave, having shattered the records, set his sights on doing it again with a totally different approach. Instead of only brute power and mechanical fortitude, the new J.S. Irving design focused more on slicing a clean hole in the air. Of course, brute power didn't leave the scene. The engines in the Sunbeam 1000 produced a combined 1000 hp, whereas the single 24 liter, W12 Napier Lion aero engine in the Golden Arrow would produce 930 horsepower on its own. The body may have been the first to take advantage of aerodynamics by way of underbody shaping, generating 450 lbs of downforce at speed. When completed, the car was packed up and shipped to Daytona Beach. Segrave made two test runs at up to 180 mph and set his hood's telescopic sights on a record attempt. On March 29, 1929, in front of 100,000 spectators, Segrave crushed Keech's record with a run of 231.56 mph. With only about 20 miles under its belt, the car had set a record that would stand for nearly two years. Upon returning to England, Segrave was Knighted for his feats of daring. Unfortunately, this would be the last land speed record Sir Henry would ever attain. After this triumph, he turned his eyes to setting speed records on the water. He died shortly thereafter, in an accident in that pursuit—during which, of course he had achieved a run of 96.76 mph. In 1930, the Segrave Trophy was established in his memory. It is awarded annually to the Briton who demonstrates the most outstanding achievement on land, at sea or in the air.

The Fire Arrow was actually a rebadged Mitsubishi Celeste with about 50 pounds of tape stripes and decals, all in colors straight out of Malaise Central Casting. The regular Plymouth Arrow came with the smaller 2-liter engine and only 15 pounds of decals.


This example is in pretty rough shape, but the rust-free climate has kept it in restorable condition.


I was tempted to put a note under the wiper offering to buy the car, but California's smog overlords stand in the way of my plans for such a car: drop the turbocharged Astron out of a Starion in it. I'd probably end up in Smog Guantanamo if I tried to get such a setup past the bureaucracy.


You want Malaise? How about these plastic quarter-window louvers? Don't they make you feel like Jimmy Carter is back in the White House, and the hostages are back in the US Embassy in Tehran?


The important question here is: Do the Fire Arrow's louvers capture the optimism-in-the-face-of-gloom spirit of Malaise Era automotive styling more effectively than those on the 1973 Pontiac Grand Am Colonnade?

Gawker Media polls require Javascript; if you're viewing this in an RSS reader, click through to view in your Javascript-enabled web browser.

Before he left for vacation, Ol' JC Whitless threatened an onslaught of obscure models from the womb of Ma Mopar. Today he kicked over the Plymouth Arrow, a Mitsubishi-derived model available with the Silent Shaft mill that in turbocharged form later powered the Mighty Starion. Of course, the Astron-powered model was known as the Fire Arrow, a car which we touched on about six months ago. Plus, it was covered by a warranty so strong, ChryCo referred to it as "The Clincher." And let's face it, if the stylish stripes and the ability to run leaded or unleaded gas don't get you, well, The Clincher will. Click through for a picture of Don Prudhomme. – Davey G. Johnson

Related:
En Fuego! The Plymouth Fire Arrow!