When BRABUS builds something wearing the “Rocket” badge, it is never subtle. The new Rocket GTC Deep Red, revealed at Pebble Beach during the 2025 Monterey Car Week, is the latest in a lineage that began with the blacked-out low-slung 211 mph Rocket CLS back in ‘06, a sedan that once held the title of world’s fastest four-door.
Over the years, the Rocket family has evolved from ultra-high-speed Autobahn weapons into hyper-exclusive, coachbuilt flagships like the one we see here. Today, the Rocket series sits at the very top of BRABUS’ lineup, above the brand’s G-Class configurations and even the Rocket GTS Shooting Brake.
The GTC Deep Red takes the performance of the GTS, removes the roof, and turns up the drama with a body made entirely from red-tinted exposed carbon fiber. Power comes from BRABUS’ in-house 4.5-liter twin-turbo V8 paired with a 204-horsepower rear-axle electric motor. Combined, you get 1,000 horsepower and 1,342 pound-feet of torque, capped at 1,195 pound-feet for drivetrain safety.
The dash to 60 mph sprint in 2.6 seconds. Top speed is limited to 197 mph, making it one of the fastest open-top hybrids in the world. For those who care, that hybrid system’s electric range is just 7.5 miles, and fuel economy is 18.2 mpg combined.
But BRABUS’s approach is so much more than just power; it is full-scale reengineering. The all-carbon bodywork is wider, lower, and aerodynamically honed in a wind tunnel. Forged Monoblock P wheels with integrated carbon aero blades are not available on any standard SL (sans the Maybach variants), and the GTC’s bespoke “Masterpiece” interior, with quilted Shell-pattern leather and matte Shadow Gray switchgear, is crafted entirely to order.
In the metal, the Rocket GTC is a coachbuilt, limited-production halo car designed for a clientele who already own multiple supercars and want something no one else will have. At roughly $800,000 (€697,800) before taxes, the Rocket GTC Deep Red is by far the most extroverted expression yet of what the Rocket badge stands for.
While BRABUS has not officially announced exact production numbers for the Rocket GTC Deep Red, its closely related siblings provide a strong clue. The AMG-GT-based Rocket 1000 coupe and Rocket GTS Shooting Brake, which share the same hybrid powertrain and core engineering, are each limited to 25 units worldwide. If the GTC follows suit, it would place this open-top variant among the most exclusive coachbuilt convertibles on the market today.
Source: Brabus
