12 for the Road: Mercedes Bids Adieu to V-12 S65 Super Sedan

12 for the Road: Mercedes Bids Adieu to V-12 S65 Super Sedan
mercedes-benz amg s65 final edition; manufacturer images

the window is closing on a bygone era at the mercedes-benz display in geneva as it rolls out the final edition of the mercedes amg s65 super sedan, a rear-wheel-drive v-12 brute, for the 2019 geneva international motor show. among other mercedes reveals this week was a concept for a coming electric minivan.

2019 mercedes-benz s-class specs & reviews find a 2019 mercedes-benz s-class near you

mercedes will build just 130 copies of the fully tricked-out s65's last hurrah — many of which are likely to end up in wealthy collectors' garage mahals. perhaps anticipating they won't spend a lot of time on the road, mercedes thoughtfully is including a matching amg indoor car cover emblazoned with "amg s65 final edition." pricing was not announced, but a similarly equipped regular s65 (that has every option and more) hovers around a quarter of a million dollars.

highlights of the final edition (which include pretty much all available luxury and driver assistance features):

  • a lot of black, befitting the end of the line, including high-gloss obsidian black metallic paint, black exhaust tips and an interior swathed in black nappa leather. the amg used engine builder's badge on the v-12 also is black.
  • spoked 20-inch wheels and exterior accents with a matte bronze-color finish. that accent is picked up inside with miles of copper-color contrast stitching — even on the floormats. the ambient lighting choices also include a special copper color.
  • carbon-fiber interior trim and a "1 of 130" badge on the console lid.
  • standard features that include the variable magic sky control panoramic moonroof, individual power reclining rear seats with a lounger leg rest on the passenger side and a full-length center console with heated and cooled cupholders.

the heart of the s65 version of mercedes-benz's s-class sedan is the 621-horsepower, twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter v-12 that puts out a trucklike 738 pounds-feet of torque. mercedes estimates that it can push the u.s. s65 from zero-to-60 mph in 4.1 seconds; top speed is 186 mph if you have an autobahn handy. it's not even the fastest s-class sedan anymore, however; the amg s63, with its more modern 602-hp, twin-turbo 4.0-liter v-8, all-wheel drive and launch control, hits 60 mph in 3.4 seconds.

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but that's not the point. there is no comparison to the v-12's smooth power delivery and the uniquely satisfying sound you get when you fire it up. i was told by mercedes that the v-12, which dates used engine ">in its current form to 2003, still is offered to satisfy the buyer who wants the "ultimate" cachet and sound.

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