If the cream of the crop is what you’re after, chances are the 2017 Mercedes-AMG S 65 Cabriolet will do it for you
The automaker has announced that its luxurious four-seater convertible is available from now on with the range-topping engine from Mercedes-AMG, the 6.0-liter V12 biturbo unit.
The 2017 Mercedes-AMG S 65 Cabriolet becomes only the second drop-top to get this engine – the first one being the recently refreshed 2017 SL roadster. It is also only the fifth Mercedes-AMG model to get the biturbo V12, following the S 65 Sedan, SL 65 Roadster, G 65 off-roader and S 65 Coupé.
The V12 power plant needs no introductions: it delivers 630 PS at 4,800-5,400 rpm and 1,000 Nm of torque between 2,300 and 4,300 rpm. Combine that with the S 65 Cabriolet's sports suspension based on Airmatic, the AMG Speedshift Plus 7G-Tronic automatic transmission with paddle shifters and the rear-wheel drive setup and you get one of the world's fastest four-seat convertibles.
The Mercedes-AMG S 65 Cabriolet sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.1 seconds and reaches an electronically-limited top speed of 250 km/h. Sure, the V8-powered S 63 Cabriolet reaches 100 km/h from a standstill in 3.9 seconds, but that's due to the standard 4Matic all-wheel drive system. The optional AMG Driver's package releases more of the S 65 Cabriolet's full potential, increasing top speed to 300 km/h – also electronically limited.
We know it's a trivial matter in this case, but the S 65 Cabriolet averages 12 l/100 km, equivalent to 272 g/km – Mercedes-Benz says that's significantly better than all of the model's competitors.
Styling-wise, the S 65 Cabriolet features some V12-specific design elements in high-sheen chrome at the front, sides and rear, including the "twin blade" radiator grille, the intake grilles, the trim strip on the "A-wing", the air deflector elements and the front splitter. Other unique visual tweaks include V12 Biturbo lettering on the wings, high-sheen chrome inserts in the side skirts, ceramic high-sheen multi-spoke 20-inch forged wheels and chromed twin tailpipes in V12 design. The fabric soft top is available in black, dark blue, beige and dark red.
The exclusivity of the Mercedes-AMG S 65 Cabriolet is also obvious in the cabin: occupants sit on sports seats wrapped in design exclusive Nappa leather with a diamond-pattern layout, which are electrically adjustable, have a memory function and climate control. The fabric soft top has an interior lining in Dinamica microfiber while high-grade Nappa leather lines the window frame including the A-pillars, the roof claddings and the sun visors.
Mercedes-Benz will start taking orders for the S 65 Cabriolet from April 4, 2016, and the market launch is expected in May 2016.