LA MOTOR SHOW: Benz Big hitters

Even as it rang in the future of its fast cars with the GLA 45 AMG, Mercedes didn’t ignore the upper end of its AMG market at the LA Auto Show by delivering a farewell flourish to the SLS and even more power to the S-Class.

With 1000Nm of torque, the twin-turbo V12 S 65 AMG will hit 100km/h in 4.3 seconds and will be priced well above the lighter, more agile S 63 AMG V8.

Already on sale in Europe and the US, the S 65 AMG will arrive in right-hand drive countries next year with a crunching 470kW and is electronically limited to 250km/h, though that can be removed by the dealers to let the car stretch out to 305km/h.

While it does not offer all-wheel drive, like its smaller-engined sibling, it is claimed to be the most fuel-efficient V12 sedan in the world. That’s not exactly trawling from a huge sample size, given it includes the likes of the Bentley Continental Flying Spur and Rolls-Royce’s fleet, but 279 grams of CO2/km isn’t going to win friends anywhere. Not that S 65 AMG owners are likely to care.

As AMG’s Chairman of the Board, Tobias Moers, observed, V12 AMG owners just want the maximum power and the maximum cylinder count available.

The S 65 AMG delivers a higher grade of leather than even the S 63, with nappa leather roof lining, diamond-pattern upholstery, wood trim and a full leather dashboard.

It also delivers a 6.5cm by 4.5cm touch pad integrated into the armrest and it is managed in the same way as an iPad or tablet, recognising one-, two- or three-fingered gestures.

It also delivers a head-up display, with a 21cm by 7cm colour display being reflected onto a film on the windscreen directly in front of the driver.

While the S 65 AMG is all-new, the SLS GT Final Edition is farewelling a landmark model in AMG history.

With the SLS on its way out to make way for the smaller SLC sports car, the Final Edition will come with 440kW and 650Nm of torque.

Based off the SLS GT, the Final Edition’s main exterior differences relate to its aerodynamic performance and a few unique features. The key of these is the (fake) carbon-fibre bonnet, with a large central hot-air outlet, a carbon-fibre front splitter and a carbon-fibre rear wing off the SLS Black Series.

It runs on cup-style tyres with forged AMG alloys and the whole thing hits 100km/h in 3.7 seconds or 200km/h in 11.2 seconds. Its top speed is limited to 318km/h.

Each of the Final Editions will also score a numbered badge on its carbon-fibre centre console, all the way up to 350.

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