• HOME
• 
• AUTO LISTINGS
• 
• FINANCE
• 
• NEWS
• 
• DIRECTORY
• 
• REVIEWS
• 
• FORUM
• 
• BLOG
• 

Mercedes-Benz Unleashes 612 hp S65 AMG for Detroit

Mercedes Largest and Latest AMG Sedan is Capable of Reaching 100 km/h in 4.4 Seconds

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

This is Germanys idea of a muscle car: the new 2007 Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG. (Photo: Mercedes-Benz U.S.A.)

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

As featured in the CL65, SL65 and Maybach 57S, the twin-turbo V12 is at home in the new S-Class.? (Photo: Mercedes-Benz U.S.A.)

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

As with most new AMG powerplants, the S65s V12 is handbuilt by one AMG craftsman from start to finish.? (Photo: Mercedes-Benz U.S.A.)

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

Exterior changes are run of the mill as far as AMG Benzes go. (Photo: Mercedes-Benz U.S.A.)

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

Not much change from the standard S-Class, but you do get a digital stopwatch timer and fancy adaptive seats. (Photo: Mercedes-Benz U.S.A.)

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.

Page:  1

AUTOMOBILE REVIEWS BY MAKE

Acura  Audi   Bentley   BMW   Buick   Cadillac   Chevrolet   Chrysler   Daewoo   Dodge   Eagle   Ferrari   Ford   Geo   GMC   Honda   Hummer   Hyundai   Infiniti   Isuzu   Jaguar   Jeep   Kia   Lamborghini   Lexus   Lincoln   Lotus   Maserati   Mazda   Mercedes-Benz   Mercury   MINI   Mitsubishi   Nissan   Oldsmobile   Plymouth   Pontiac   Porsche   Saab   Saturn   Scion   Subaru   Suzuki   Toyota   Volkswagen   Volvo