Cast your minds back to July and you might remember us bringing you news of the first AMG-powered version of the new Mercedes S-Class: the S63 AMG.
Launched in September at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the S63 AMG comes with a 5.5-litre V8 engine which develops 577bhp and 664lb-ft of torque, will go from 0-62mph in 4.4 seconds and carry on accelerating right up to a limited 155mph. It is, in short a very fast car.
It's not quite as fast, however, as this. This is the new Mercedes S65 AMG and it's set to steal the performance crown from the S63 and become the most powerful model in the S-Class range.
Unlike the V8-powered S63, the S65 is fitted with a 6.0-litre V12 engine which churns out 621bhp and 737lb-ft of torque. This doesn't bestow the S65 with much of a performance advantage over the S63 -- the 0-62mph time is cut by 0.1sec to 4.3sec and the top speed remains the same -- however, thanks to the extra torque the S65 should feel significantly faster than its eight-cylinder sibling.
The power is sent to the rear wheels via AMG’s new Speedshift Plus 7G-Tronic seven-speed automatic gearbox, which replaces the old five-speeder found in the old S65 AMG.
Mercedes claims the S65 AMG will return 23.7mpg on the combined cycle, while emitting 279g/km of CO2. So, it's not exactly a Toyota Prius then; however, Merc claims that the S65 is the most efficient V12 in the world.
Visually, the major changes to the S65 include a new 12-spoke grille, which mirrors the number of cylinders under the bonnet, new lightweight 20-inch alloy wheels, larger front air intakes, a front splitter, twin exhaust tailpipes and new front and rear bumpers.
Inside, the S65 AMG is the standard S-Class tech fest. You get a head-up display, a new touchpad which uses smartphone gestures for swiping and zooming, a Burmester stereo, massage leather seats and a surfeit of extra AMG equipment.
The S65 AMG will be unveiled at both the LA and Tokyo Motor Shows later this month.
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