Mercedes-Benz Unleashes 612 hp S65 AMG for Detroit

Detroit, Michigan is the undisputed muscle car capital of the world, the epicenter of big-block performance, if you will. On the other hand, its also the place where automakers from around the globe come to show off their latest creations, as Detroit is the home of the North American International Auto Show. At this years event, European luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz has whipped up a different kind of muscle car to display: a leather-lined, wood-trimmed luxury sedan based on the all-new S-Class.

While Mercedes has made leaps and bounds in the technology department with the new S-Class, on paper, the S65 AMGs powertrain - the muscle in this muscle car - hasnt advanced at all. All things considered, the handbuilt 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged V12 is a pretty impressive unit, generating 612 horsepower and 732 lb-ft of torque, figures sure to gain respect from everyone at the drag strip. Alas, it doesnt offer anything different from the other AMG cars that bear the V12 Biturbo 65 AMG badge, or the new Maybach 57S.

Interestingly, after three years, Mercedes still hasnt found a way to beef up its 7G-Tronic seven-speed automatic gearbox to cope with the twin-turbo motors torque. As such, the new S65 carries on with the old, but effective 5-speed automatic gearbox, which can be controlled through a column-mounted shifter or "paddles" integrated within the backs of the steering wheel spokes.

Though nearly all the engines components, such as engine block, pistons and cylinders, have gone unchanged, AMGs engineers have fiddled with it slightly to improve its efficiency under heavy loads. The new S65 features a revised intercooler thats 70 percent larger, while a new fuel supply system offers increased flexibility for fuel delivery at various loads. Benz also developed a new kind of catalytic converter, designed to work better at low temperatures, allowing this big, burly powerplant to surpass Europes EU 4 regulations and qualify for a LEV II (Low Emissions Vehicle II) standing in the U.S.

Nevertheless, even with equipment thats been carried over, the S65 is one of the strongest performing cars on the market - let alone high-performance luxury limos. Merc claims that this barge can charge to 60 mph in just 4.3 seconds - a figure most sports cars struggle to achieve, while 125 mph from a standstill is completed in a mere 13.3 seconds. Unsurprisingly, these figures equal the old S65 AMG, even with the new cars weight gains. Top speed remains at an electronically-limited 155 mph, though the speed governor can be raised to 186+ mph for a surcharge.

To cope with speeds that the 612 horsepower V12 can attain, the S65 also gets upgraded suspension and chassis components. For starters, the S65 rides lower than the standard S-Class and features Benzs Active Body Control (ABC) as standard equipment. ABC allows the S-Class to remove nearly all body roll, keeping the car flat during heavy cornering, an impressive feat for such a large sedan. To give the S65 a sporty feel, AMG tweaked the hydraulic unitized spring and damper system to produce a firmer ride. As for the brakes, not only are they massive at 390 mm (15.4 inches) and 365 mm (14.4 inches) front and rear, but they also feature a new floating caliper system, which allows for improved ventilation.

Like all other AMG cars, the S65 features the standard exterior styling upgrades. Included in your purchase is the three-piece bodykit consisting of a new bumper with extra-wide mesh intake, fog lamps and brake cooling ducts, stylized side skirts and a sportier rear valance which frames the four, ovoid exhaust pipes. The package is rounded out by classic five-spoke AMG 19-inch wheels wrapped in 255/40 and 275/40 profile tires in front and rear, respectively. The new S65 does look sportier than previous hot S-Class models, thanks to the new generations bulging fender flares and sleeker styling.

The interior changes to the S65 are subtle, and minimal. Much of the cabin is unchanged from the standard S-Class, which means plenty of glove-soft leather and traditional burled walnut trim. AMGs contribution to improving driver appeal comes from new, adaptive sports seats, a revised instrument cluster with oil temperature and voltimeter, and the addition of Racetimer, an on-board stopwatch timer that allows the timing and storage of distance, acceleration and various other things. It all sounds very similar to whats offered on Porsches equipped with the Sports Chrono package.

In other news, Mercedes will also launch another high-performance AMG S-Class model called the S63 AMG to fill the shoes left by the old supercharged S55 AMG sedan. It will possess many of the S65s visual, interior and technological upgrades, but uses the new, naturally aspirated 6.3-liter V8 engine found under the hood of the R63 and ML63 AMG sports utility vehicles. Expect it to join the S-Class ranks sometime during 2006, after its predicted debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Pricing for the S65 will be announced at a later date.