Mercedes S-Class Cabrio in its final form

We're looking forward to seeing the new S-Class Cabrio at this year's Frankfurt motor show around mid-September.

The lack of camouflage on the vehicle pictured here, being tested at the Nurburgring is further evidence the S-Class Cabrio is very close to global launch, as we observed as long ago as February. Frankfurt, being Benz's home-town international motor show – and the next major event on the calendar – is where it will all happen.

With much of the Cabrio's camouflage stripped away, it's a simple process to create an accurate depiction of the car in a computer-generated rendering, as Automedia has done.

Don't expect to see the S-Class Cabrio in Australia until next year, and don't expect it to be especially affordable either. The S-Class Coupe starts from $319,000 for the S 500, which is the base-grade model. Move on up to the S 63 AMG and the price rises to $409,000. At the very pinnacle is the V12-engined S 65 AMG, which literally leaves little change from half a million bucks.

For the local market, the Cabrio is likely to be available in S 500 and S 63 guise exclusively. The S 65 Coupe is only available to special order in Australia, and a convertible version would sell in even smaller numbers, making it – we expect – almost futile for Benz to offer it.

However, the possibility both Coupe and Cabrio will be offered in 'Maybach' trim would allow the local arm of the prestige brand to offer a V12-engined luxury variant (rather than the sporty AMG S 65) for a sum of money under half a million dollars.