New York show: Benz applies AMG blowtorch to coupe

MERCEDES-BENZ will use the next two big international motor shows, in New York and Beijing, to roll out the AMG-enhanced versions of its new S-Class Coupe.

First up will be the bi-turbo V8-powered S63 AMG Coupe in the Big Apple next month, followed a few days later by the bi-turbo V12-driven S65 AMG Coupe flagship at the Chinese capital’s 2014 motor expo.

The ‘standard’ V12 version, the S600 Coupe, is also likely to surface in Beijing, completing the coupe model line-up that will go on sale in Europe next month and land in Australia either late this year or early 2015.

Mercedes-Benz Australia-Pacific has confirmed that all these models will be offered here, where the S65 Coupe will become the new flagship of the range after the demise of the gullwing SLS AMG supercar that was always planned for a limited production run.

Australia will get the muscular coupe in four petrol-powered flavours – S500, S600, S63 AMG and S65 AMG – with no engine smaller than a 5.5-litre V8 with turbo-charging.

The 335kW/700Nm V8 S500 range opener is likely to be the first to arrive, possibly in late 2014 but more likely early 2015, with the S63 AMG Coupe arriving a month or so later.

Mercedes-Benz Australian-Pacific senior manager for public relations, product and corporate communications David McCarthy told GoAuto that a fourth-quarter arrival for the S-Class Coupe was still possible, but until production dates were known for Australian stocks, the on-sale date was still up in the air.

“History tells me that these things usually blow out, so we are probably talking early 2015,” he said.

The standard S-Class Coupe was revealed at the recent Geneva motor show, and now Mercedes-Benz has issued images and details of the four-seat S63 AMG Coupe, confirming that it will be powered by a 5.5-litre twin-turbo engine packing 430kW of power – 30kW more than the previous CL 63 – and 900Nm of torque (up 100Nm).

Equipped with the optional 4Matic all-wheel-drive system that has become available on the coupe for the first time, the two-tonne two-door luxury coupe can be propelled from standstill to 100km/h in 3.9 seconds.

In less grippy rear-wheel drive form, the sprint is completed in a more sedate 4.3 seconds.

However, the rear-drive version is slightly easier on the juice, at 10.1 litres per 100km, compared with 10.3L/100km.

Unusually, the kerb weight of both variants is listed as the same – 1995kg in unladen form – despite the extra drivetrain components of the 4Matic.

Mercedes-Benz says its AMG engineers have pared 65kg out of the coupe’s bulk through weight-saving measures that include a lithium-ion battery, light alloy wheels and ceramic composite brakes. The entire outer skin is made of aluminium.

The AMG-tricked S-Class Coupes get exhaust pipe flaps that open to unleash the full V8 bellow under hard acceleration. These flaps open earlier in Sport and Manual modes.

Default mode of the seven-speed automatic transmission is Controlled Efficiency, which includes idle-stop.

The C63 Coupe comes standard with Benz’s world-first ‘Magic Body Control’ automated suspension that can tilt the car in corners for passenger comfort.

A camera road scanning system anticipates corners, adjusting each damper separately via hydraulic pressure.

Nineteen-inch forged alloy wheels are standard, shod with 255/45 tyres on the front and wider 285/40 tyres at the rear.

The AMG models get bespoke front and rear bumper treatments, including a gloss black rear diffuser with mega quad exhaust pipe tips.

In case anyone is wondering what is under the bonnet, ‘V8 Biturbo’ badges grace the front mudguards.

Inside, a new-look AMG sports steering wheel is cloaked in perforated leather, while a new touchpad is said to provide easier operation of the radio, phone and sat—nav systems.