Consider the humble turtle. Reptiles of the order Testudines, modern turtles are divided between Pleurodira and Cryptodira families based upon the ways their heads retract. However, as any inquisitive three-year-old will tell you, what makes turtles unique among God’s many created things is the way they carry their homes around on their backs. Turtles are nature’s RVs. Now, hold that thought…
A late-model Ford Fungus with a serviceable radio and an air conditioner will get you from Point A to Point B in relative comfort. However, a Hennessey Venom will do the same thing much more quickly while landing you dates with supermodels in the process. Curiously, this same timeless axiom also applies to motorhomes.
The BRABUS Ethos & the Big Boy 1200
Bodo Buschmann launched the BRABUS Company in the 1980’s, offering tailor-made high-end automobiles. The company has since evolved into a globally-acclaimed luxury mobility brand. Their stable includes supercars, bespoke all-terrain SUVs, yachts, and uber-sexy motorcycles. If it has BRABUS in the name, you can know it is both rarefied and perfect.
The Big Boy 1200 takes that same compunction for style, class, and quality to the world of recreational vehicles. Whether you are a rock star on tour or a well-heeled high-net-worth individual who wants to explore the backwoods without sacrificing amenities or comfort, the Big Boy 1200 is your luxury home away from home. This freaking thing is a simply breathtaking piece of engineering.
Inside
The Big Boy 1200 is just shy of 40 feet long and sports 320 square feet of luxurious living space. A total of four electrically-driven slide-outs extend the width of the bedroom and living room/saloon to nearly 15 feet. The expanded bedroom accommodates an enormous bed. The entire back wall of the vehicle forms a generous closet.
Anyone who possesses the resources to acquire one of these refined RVs has both professional responsibilities and important stuff to do. As a result, the Big Boy includes a work desk alongside two 43-inch 4K televisions. There is a PlayStation 5 integrated into the system. Built-in Starlink satellite internet keeps you connected and productive most anyplace in the world.
The BRABUS Big Boy 1200 represents top-flight luxury both inside and out. The sitting area includes a pair of sofas upholstered in premium BRABUS leather. Seats and door panels are tastefully matched. Top-quality premium carpet, wood accents, butter-soft Alcantra, and carbon-fiber trim synergistically make the Big Boy living space more of an experience than a physical object. Two electrically-operated skylights let you stargaze in comfort when in rural spaces.
One of the perennial challenges associated with living on the road is doing without the amenities of home. The Big Boy 1200 brings home along with you no matter where you go. That means a thoroughly modern kitchen replete with dishwasher, induction hobs, full Gaggeneu oven, and generous refrigerator with freezer. A free-standing wine fridge and coffee maker ensure that you are never away from the finer things. A generous dinner table can double as a work station or mobile office. Paola Lenti chairs are both tasteful and comfortable.
Creature Comforts Aplenty
I have lived out of bathrooms on boats and motor homes that would have been cramped for an Oompa-Loompa. By contrast, that of the Big Boy is divided into three ample spaces, is outfitted in natural stone, and includes a rainforest shower. The toilet and washbasin would do a luxury hotel proud. There is a 113-gallon freshwater tank to feed everything on the go. Built-in floor heating keeps your toes toasty on chilly mornings.
Some of the places you might go in the Big Boy would likely not necessarily be temperate. A high-tech central air conditioning system operates in concert with an underfloor parking heater to keep temperatures pleasant no matter the chaos outside. The motor home’s systems can obviously be powered by an external power source. The vehicle also includes eight solar panel arrays on the roof that are mated to an onboard energy storage system.
The cockpit includes a pair of generous comfortable seats appointed in BRABUS Masterpiece leather and separate access doors. Curtains can seal off the cockpit from the rest of the vehicle. There is also a retractable 63-inch bed located above the driving stations.
The point of the Big Boy is to take you to austere spaces comfortably. Automatic hydraulic jacks level the vehicle painlessly on uneven surfaces. Electrically extendable steps make ingress and egress quick and easy.
Power and Particulars
Beauty may indeed be only skin deep, but a vehicle this extraordinary needs to leave an indelible impression. The characteristic all-black exterior projects both elegance and power. An illuminated BRABUS logo on the carbon-fiber grille makes a statement even sitting still. Side wind deflectors, fog light covers, and sundry latches are made from the same stuff. Auxiliary LED lighting on the roof light bar complement the state-of-the-art headlight system.
The BRABUS Big Boy 1200 weighs 57,200 pounds empty. That’s as much as an M2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle. Such ample mass demands a 12.8-liter six-cylinder turbodiesel that produces some 530 hp and 1,918 lb-ft of torque. Given the vehicle’s prodigious size, its top speed is limited to 56 mph. Think of it like a condominium you can drive. The fuel tank carries just over 100 gallons of diesel.
The three-axle chassis sports two sets of dual tires on 22.5-inch aluminum rims for comfort and safety. A 360-degree external camera monitoring system ensures effective situational awareness no matter the circumstances. If getting there really is half the fun, then the BRABUS Big Boy 1200 ensures you do so in opulent style.
With a sticker price of around $1.5 million depending upon particulars, the Big Boy 1200 obviously isn’t for everyone. However, if you have the means, this big beautiful monster will indeed set you apart from the crowd. The BRABUS Big Boy 1200 is like a supercar on steroids.
