What's the news?

Mercedes-Benz's performance division, AMG, has revealed the fastest S-Class in the new W222 range. The S 65 uses a 6.0-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine to catapult the S 65 to 62mph in 4.3 seconds from rest and it'll be straining against its electronic 155mph leash shortly after. It's the second AMG S-Class in the line-up, the V12 machine just bettering the (already stupidly quick) S 63 AMG against the clock. Just though, the S 63 trailing its V12 relation to that benchmark sprint by only 0.1 seconds.

Exterior

V12 badging is obviously new, as are the forged lightweight alloy wheels, but aside from some additional chrome around the front grille and air intakes on the lower bumper the S 65 wears its top dog status relatively discretely.
There's not a lot different on the outside with the S 65 either. The

Interior

Inside it's all but identical to its S 63 AMG relation, too, though as that's a fairly special place to sit then that's really no problem. Being the range topper the equipment count is high, with the S 65 buyer wanting for little on the options list. The instruments will remind you this is the flagship machine by displaying 'V12 Biturbo' in the rev counter dial in the TFT screen, while ahead of you there's a head-up display. A new touchpad controller for the Comand infotainment system also features inside - prior to it reaching the C-Class early next year.

Mechanicals

Like the S 63 the S 65 features Mercedes-Benz's Magic Body Control, an active suspension system that the engineers at Mercedes have clearly made some devilish pact to make work. The headline act remains the engine though, the biturbo 6.0-litre V12 bettering its 5.5-litre V8 biturbo S 63 relation by 45hp and 100Nm of torque with 630hp and 1,000Nm. There's a lightweight lithium ion battery in a bid to save some weight, though the 20kg or so it saves is marginal in such a machine.

Anything else?

There's no UK pricing confirmed, but those extra four cylinders over the 'lesser' S 63 AMG typically command many tens of thousands of pounds extra. It's available in long wheelbase format only too. Figure on £150,000 or so then, before you've added any options - of which there remain plenty, including the carbon ceramic brakes that might be handy with so much power available. It'll be officially unveiled simultaneously at the LA and Tokyo motor shows later this month, and on sale as soon as you can fire a deposit into your local dealer's account.

Kyle Fortune - 8 Nov 2013