Merc drop-top madness in Detroit

Mercedes-AMG launches bi-turbo V12-powered S 65 Cabriolet.

Words Kyle Fortune Published 17 January 2016

What's the news?

There may be snow outside, but in The Cobo Center for the NAIAS in Detroit it's hot on the Mercedes-Benz stand. Everyone's excited about the new E-Class, but Mercedes-AMG has brought along a new model to make up the numbers. Big ones, too, as the S 65 Cabriolet, which made its world debut this week in Detroit, gets AMG's most potent petrol engine, a 6.0-litre biturbo V12 with 621hp for a 0-100km/h time of 4.1 seconds and 300km/h potential top speed - if you tick the AMG Driver's package option. That's the same pace as its coupé relative, despite some additional weight to strengthen it up for its opening roof.

Yet it's not quite as brisk as the 'S 63 4Matic Cabriolet Edition 130' that joined the S 65 Cabriolet on the Detroit show stand. Embarrassingly, if you've gone for the S 65 Cabriolet, its 'lesser' relation, with a mere 585hp V8 biturbo can beat it to 100km/h - by 0.2 seconds. Thankfully only 130 of the Edition 130 will be built, and none in right-hand drive, sparing S 65 Cabriolet owner's blushes.

If you have to ask how much the new Cabrio costs then you most certainly cannot afford it, but think around the €300,000 mark with a few options for the S 65 Cabriolet. Don't expect to see many around here...

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