Wednesday 13th November 2013

Mercedes S65 AMG revealed (with video)

Why make do with a mere V8 in your AMG S-Class when you can have a V12?

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That the first line in the video description of Mercedes' S65 AMG 'trailer' quotes its fuel consumption tells you everything about the current market. Outright power is no longer something to be boasted about. It averages 23.7mpg, if you're interested.

LWB only for the ultimate S-Class

But this is still a V12 bi-turbo AMG, so the S65 certainly doesn't want for performance. So where the S63 AMG has to bumble along with a 585hp, 663lb ft 5.5-litre V8 turbo, the S65 wades in with 630hp and 737lb ft from its 6.0-litre V12. The previous five-speed auto has been replaced by the AMG 7G-Tronic too, no doubt contributing to that improved mpg figure

The headline performance stats don't reveal much, the V12 just a tenth quicker to 62mph than the V8 at 4.3 seconds. We'd assume the S65 gets from 62mph to the 155mph limiter rather more swiftly though. The S63's carbon ceramic brake option is also available on the S65 for help slowing back down again.

Elsewhere, it's standard uber S-Class. Road Surface Scan and Magic Body Control work in conjunction to contain two tonnes of saloon in a straight line and 'ESP Dynamic Cornering Assist' should help when things get twistier.

New HUD will take your eyes from that wheel

In its 'selection' of interior equipment for the S65, Mercedes lists 26 items. From these, the head-up display and touchpad are most noteworthy as new tech for the S Class. The HUD is a massive 21x7cm and 'appears to float on the bonnet at a distance of about two metres from the driver'. Mercedes probably won't appreciate the comparison, but the touchpad appears to work in the same way as on the BMW 4 Series, incorporated into the top of the infotainment control dial.

Mercedes will unveil the S65 AMG simultaneously at the Los Angeles and Tokyo motor shows next week. It will be exclusively available in long wheelbase form, with UK spec and prices still to be announced. Given the S63 is now a £120K car, we can't imagine the '65 will come in at less than £150,000. Don't forget that money puts an Aston Rapide S and Bentley Flying Spur within reach too. Or perhaps give it a few years and wait until values have plummeted. 2010 S65 for £72,490 anyone?

 

 

 

[anonymous-user]

What on Earth is that steering wheel about. Seriously. For fk's sake!

[kambites]

W124 said:

What on Earth is that steering wheel about. Seriously. For fk's sake!

At least it's round, that puts it above most modern steering wheels for me.

[phil121081]

cream leather in an AMG? surely that that option shouldn't be on the spec list? Not exactly 'schporty' is it...

[Frimley111R]

W124 said:

What on Earth is that steering wheel about. Seriously. For fk's sake!

+1 Its hideous, looks like some stupid smiley face too!

[anonymous-user]

If you were on acid, that wheel would send you right over the edge.

[Thehandshake]

I love how car drivers are the main group who gets the blame for all fossil fuel related issues (it running out, climate change etc) but almost fk all is being done about other more significant factors. Like for example fking DMU's/diesel engines which pollute like a motherfker and can sit idling for hours if not days and somehow that is a good thing. Here's an in idea - instead of spending money on subsidising low CO2 emitting cars spend money on electrification of all remaining DMU operated train lines. How does that sound?

[WTFWT]

I have passengered frequently in the outgoing model S65 and it is an extraordinary power plant. I have owned and travelled in some quick stuff, but this feels as fast as all of them. Monstrous off the line and then just unrelenting acceleration. You might not like it, but I guarantee you would be gobsmacked by it.

I was pleasantly surprised by how vocal and intense the whole experience was. You always hear the platitudes "V12s feel like they always have something in reserve etc" but the car I rode in (standard) sounded angry and went like it was too...

[mrmr96]

Frimley111R said:

W124 said:

What on Earth is that steering wheel about. Seriously. For fk's sake!

+1 Its hideous, looks like some stupid smiley face too!

Ok, with the dials making eyes it looks a bit mental. But notwithstanding the smiley face, what's wrong with the wheel? It looks really nice to me. Why don't other cars have two spoke wheels?

[Escort Si-130]

Whats wrong with cream leathers??? comes in loads of other sports cars.

phil121081 said:

cream leather in an AMG? surely that that option shouldn't be on the spec list? Not exactly 'schporty' is it...

[Escort Si-130]

I don't give a fk about the environment in terms of fossil fuels, It is all bull st by these governments and lying as fk as hole scientists to rape people with more taxes.

I would be a petrol head till I die, it really pisses me off when people ask if my car is a diesel, I would be like NO!!!
Im glad Mercedes still does cars like these.

Thehandshake said:

I love how car drivers are the main group who gets the blame for all fossil fuel related issues (it running out, climate change etc) but almost fk all is being done about other more significant factors. Like for example fking DMU's/diesel engines which pollute like a motherfker and can sit idling for hours if not days and somehow that is a good thing. Here's an in idea - instead of spending money on subsidising low CO2 emitting cars spend money on electrification of all remaining DMU operated train lines. How does that sound?

[lindrup119]

Glad they put some of the car noise into the video. Sounded pretty generic though I have to say, although I wasn't expecting them to drag race it in their own promo vid.

[Krikkit]

What a fantastic machine, love it!

[Oz83]

Epic.

[GG89]

Beast!

I'll have one when my numbers come up.

[PunterCam]

mrmr96 said:

Frimley111R said:

W124 said:

What on Earth is that steering wheel about. Seriously. For fk's sake!

+1 Its hideous, looks like some stupid smiley face too!

Ok, with the dials making eyes it looks a bit mental. But notwithstanding the smiley face, what's wrong with the wheel? It looks really nice to me. Why don't other cars have two spoke wheels?

+1 Granted, the photo makes it look a little stupid, but that's just a photo taken from a 7,6" gangsters driving position. I'm sure it looks great in person. Love 2 spoke wheels - very cool.

[Froomee]

The cost to buy a watch similar to the clock on the dash is about £5k... although admittedly watches are different due to packaging constraints, etc.

Looks like a lovely place to be transported around in.

[disco666]

No doubt it is a great car, but as the article states, price-wise there is better about.
I can see why you would dismiss the Aston if you need 4 proper seats, but would you really choose this over the Bentley?

[kambites]

disco666 said:

No doubt it is a great car, but as the article states, price-wise there is better about.
I can see why you would dismiss the Aston if you need 4 proper seats, but would you really choose this over the Bentley?

Badge snobbery aside, I'd imagine it's quite likely that the Merc will be the better car.

[RosscoPCole]

What an engineering marvel. If I ever did own one I would expect the picture of the car on the dash display to match the colour of the car I had. It would annoy me more than the steering wheel design.

[Twoshoe]

I'm still not sure about the looks. It's not ugly by any means but to me it just looks like A Large Mercedes. The previous generation looked better and much more different from the smaller saloons.