The Mercedes-AMG S65 Cabriolet is more car than you could possibly ever need (pictures)
Combining a 12-cylinder engine and a four-seat convertible for the first time, the S65 Cabriolet is not for mankind's most subtle examples.
The Mercedes-AMG S65 Cabriolet continues AMG's long-standing tradition of shoving huge amounts of horsepower into an otherwise sedate luxury vehicle.
This time, the madmen at AMG took an ordinary S-Class Cabriolet and added a 6.0-liter, twin-turbocharged, 12-cylinder engine.
The S65 Cabriolet will put out 630 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque.
There is no all-wheel-drive option for the S65 Cabriolet -- it's rear-wheel drive or nothin'.
Power makes its way from engine to wheels by way of a seven-speed automatic transmission, specifically engineered to handle the V12's immense torque output.
Green-minded enthusiasts will be pleased to know that the S65 Cabriolet comes with stop-start technology to cut down on emissions and wasted gas at idle.
The S65 doesn't look that much different from the standard S-Class Cabriolet, until you take notice of the "V12 Biturbo" badges on the front fenders.
The S65 Cabriolet also features a heapin' helpin' of chrome exterior trim, starting up front with the air splitter and going all the way back to the hallmark AMG quad tailpipes.
As with other S-Class Cabriolets, the S65 Cabriolet features a power-operated soft top available in four colors -- dark blue, dark red, black and beige.
The S65 Cabriolet's soft top can open and close in 17 seconds, at speeds up to 31 mph.
To keep its occupants toasty on long top-down rides, the S65 Cabriolet comes with both Aircap, which deflects air over the top of the windshield cowl, and Airscarf, which utilizes seat-mounted heat vents to keep necks and heads warm.
If safety is a concern, the S65 Cabriolet can be had with the brand's Distronic Plus suite of safety equipment.
Combining features like adaptive cruise control, active lane-keep assist, active blind-spot monitoring and more, Distronic Plus can practically drive the car itself, in situations ranging from traffic jams to open highways.
The interior is largely the same as the standard S-Class Cabriolet, save for standard sport seats and a three-spoke steering wheel.
The seats are finished in nappa leather, and the soft top is lined with microfiber.
European buyers can order an S65 Cabriolet starting in April 2016, with deliveries following in May. There's no official word on a US release, but we'd bet dollars to doughnuts that it'll arrive in the US a few months after its European launch.
There's no word on pricing, but for a bit of context, the fixed-roof Mercedes-AMG S65 Coupe currently starts at $234,050, £181,305 or AU$499,000, depending on your market.