S65 Cabriolet to top Benz line-up

MERCEDES-AMG has lifted the lid on its flagship S65 Cabriolet that will become the company's most expensive offering when it rolls into dealerships late next year.

Pricing for the V12-powered ultra-luxury drop-top is under wraps for now, but it is expected to carry a premium over the S65 Coupe – the most expensive model in Benz's line-up – which retails for $498,610 plus on-road costs.

All S65 models, including the hulking long-wheelbase sedan, are an order-only proposition in Australia, and according to the car-maker, delivery to well-heeled customers usually takes about three months.

The S65 Cabriolet is the first V12 four-seater convertible offered by Mercedes.

It brings the V12 arsenal to five, joining the S65 sedan and Coupe, as well as the SL65 Roadster and G65 off-roader.

The 6.0-litre bi-turbo petrol engine pumps out 463kW of power at 4800-5400rpm and 1000Nm of torque at 2300-4300rpm, ensuring a 0-100km/h sprint time of 4.1 seconds – the same output and time as the hardtop coupe.

The engine is matched with a 7G-Tronic dual-clutch automatic transmission with three modes – Controlled Efficiency, Sport and Manual.

The electronically limited top speed is 250km/h, but an optional AMG Driver's package raises the top speed to 300km/h.

Fuel consumption is rated at 12 litres per 100km on the European combined cycle. Carbon dioxide emissions are 272g/km.

The S65 Cabriolet will compete with the just-launched $749,000 (driveaway) Rolls-Royce Dawn with its 420kW/780Nm 6.6-litre twin-turbo V12 and 4.9s 0-100km/h sprint time, as well as the $534,400 (plus on-roads) Bentley Continental GT Speed Convertible that is powered by a 467kW/820Nm 6.0-litre W12 that covers 0-100km/h in 4.4s.

Styling flourishes to differentiate the S65 from the less-powerful S63 include high-sheen chrome at the front, sides and rear, V12 biturbo badges, 20-inch 16-spoke forged wheels, chrome quad tailpipes and a distinctive diffuser insert.

The multi-layered acoustic fabric roof is offered in black, dark blue, beige and dark red, and can be electrically opened in 17 seconds at up to 50km/h, or about five seconds faster than the roof of the Rolls-Royce Dawn.

Inside, the S65 gains “model-specific” exclusive diamond-pattern Nappa leather seats with electric adjustment, memory, heating and cooling functions.

The roof has a Dinamica microfibre lining, while more Nappa leather lines the window frame, A-pillar, sun visors and roof claddings.

For extra comfort, the S65 has the Airscarf neck warmer, heated armrests and an intelligent climate control system that does not require the driver to select a mode for closed- or open-top driving.

Other features to lift the cabin include the three-spoke, flat-bottomed steering wheel, a 12-inch high-resolution TFT display and an AMG start-up screen with an animated S65 Cabriolet on the instrument cluster.

Underneath it gets AMG-tweaked Airmatic sport suspension with adjustable dampers, along with speed-sensitive sports steering.

Standard gear in the S65 includes a head-up display, touchpad, Pre-Safe Brake with pedestrian detection, Distronic Plus with Steering Assist and Stop&Go Pilot, an active lane-keeping assist system, adaptive high beams, Brake Assist BAS Plus with a cross-traffic alert and Collision Prevention Assist Plus, which, among other things, helps prevent collisions with stationary vehicles at speeds of up to 50km/h.

It also gains a 360-degree camera, an active parking assist system, keyless entry and start, LED intelligent lighting system and Burmester 3D surround-sound system.