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NEWS
V12s top S-Class Coupe range
S 600 and S 65 AMG V12-engined flagships lead four-car line-up for Mercedes-Benz uber-coupeA pair of V12-engined models, including an order-only AMG-fettled S 65 with a Newton-kilometre of torque, will top Mercedes-Benz Australia's (MBAu) four-model S-Class Coupe range.
Due to commence local Australian deliveries very late in 2014, the new cars herald the combination of Mercedes-Benz most vaunted badge and a two-door body style for the very first time.
The new S-Class coupes replace the CL-Class family and will likely sit at the very top of the Mercedes-Benz model price list Down Under. That is until the eventual release of convertible versions circa 2016 and next year an ultra-long wheelbase limousine S-Class that will fill the gap created with the demise of Maybach as a separate brand.
Four variants of the new oversized two-doors will be offered.
The first to arrive Down Under, in November or December this year (2014), will be the twin-turbo 5.5-litre 430kW/900Nm V8-engined S 63 AMG.
Compared to the previous CL 63 AMG model, power and torque have been boosted 30kW and 100Nm respectively. Lighter to boot, thanks to the extensive use of aluminium, the AMG variant's 0-100km/h acceleration is now 4.3sec, yet Mercedes-Benz claims a combined ECE fuel economy figure of 10.1L/100km.
The AMG bellwether will be followed by the 4.6-litre V8 turbo 335kW/700Nm S 500 and V12 naturally-aspirated S 600 in the first quarter of 2015. The latter features a Euro6 compliant version of Mercedes' venerable 6.0-litre V12 rated at 390kW/830Nm.
The final, and most expensive of the Mercedes-Benz four-place two-door coupes, will be the order-only 463kW/1000Nm twin-turbo V12 S 65 AMG, which will be available for delivery in Australia from Q2 of 2015.
Although 4MATIC all-wheel-drive versions of the S-Class coupe are offered in left-hand drive markets, there are no plans to offer the option Down Under.
Currently being launched to the world's auto media in Italy, the S-Class Coupe was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2014 (the S 63 AMG version debuted at NY Motor Show in April). It is based on the short-wheelbase platform of its MR222 four-door counterpart and its architecture shares the donor car's ultra high levels of safety, amenity and infotainment equipment.
Highlights of the coupe spec sheet include a new version of MAGIC BODY CONTROL suspension system with a "curve tilting" function. The system uses cameras to detect a curve and actively lean the car into the corner. The same cameras detect road surface irregularities and 'tune' the adaptive suspension to provide an appropriate comprise of ride and handling. AMG variants get their own Affalterbach tuned versions of the system.
Of course, passengers and driver alike are pampered. The S-Class coupe carries over OTT features such as heated armrests, power closing doors and boot lid and massage seats (with six separate massage programs).
Interior and exterior finish options are myriad... And if the standard car (a term not easily used with the S-Class Coupe) doesn't possess quite enough 'bling', Mercedes-Benz even offers an LED High Performance headlight option that incorporates 47 Swarovski crystals!
Pricing is yet to be confirmed for the new S-Class Coupe range, but MBAu spokesperson David McCarthy stated the incoming models will not be more expensive than the CLs they replace.
"Pricing is not locked in. There's six to nine months before the cars arrive.
"They will arrive with more kit [standard equipment] and they will be positioned the same [above the four-doors in terms of price] but we don't expect the new S-Class models to be more expensive [than their CL-Class counterparts]," he told motoring.com.au
In spite of expanded options from the likes of Bentley and even Ferrari, McCarthy confirmed MBAu was already holding orders for the new coupes.
"Price point comparisons aren't really relevant in this marketplace. CL, now S-Class coupe, buyers are very loyal – perhaps as much so as SL buyers," he stated.
The four new S-Class coupes take to 14 the number of two and four-door S-Class variants offered Down Under. This, says McCarthy, is a record for the brand.
Currently the standard wheelbase S-Class is available as 300 Hybrid, 350 Bluetec, 400, 500 and 63 AMG, with all excepting the hybrid offered as long-wheelbase models. The only V12 four-door is the long-wheelbase 600.
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Written byMike Sinclair
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