Brabus B63 Widestar

The Mercedes GL 63 AMG is not an off-roader for those who want to go unoticed but that hasn't stopped tuning firm Brabus creating an even more extreme and outlandish version, dubbed the B63 Widestar.

It certainly lives up to its name, too, as the front and rear bumpers have been widened by 80mm to take the overall width to more than two metres. Huge air-intakes, forged 23-inch wheels and a full bodykit mean it's not exactly subtle - and the ride height has been lowered by 30mm - but the upgraded engine has enough power to match the crazy styling.

The 5.5-litre twin-turbo V8 from the standard GL 63 has been fettled with a new ECU to raise the power output from 549bhp to a whopping 611bhp sent to all four wheels, while torque has also increaed to a gargantuan 820Nm from as low as 2,000rpm. To cope with the extra power the brakes have been upgraded to hold 16-inch cross-drilled discs and six-piston calipers.

That means performance figures that could surprise a few sports cars, with a 0-62mph time of just 4.7 seconds and a limited top speed of 174mph. The stainless steel exhaust system includes a butterfly valve that is activated by pushing a button on the steering wheel to switch the B63 Widestar from a quiet cruiser into a howling V8.

Inside, the bespoke 'waffle' leather interior features Alcantara on the headlining and steering wheel and stainless backlit scuff plates that display the Brabus log - while the model that made its debut at this year's Geneva Motor Show featured wood decking in the boot.

There is no word yet on price but the standard Mercedes GL 63 AMG will set you back £91,715 before options and the extensive upgrades are likely to add at least £40,000 on top of that.