The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is known as one of the world's most impressive luxury four-door sedans. It's been like that ever since it was launched in 1954, but for short periods of time, the S-Class was also offered as a two-door coupe. It first happened in 1961 and lasted for just 10 years. It returned in the 1980s as the SEC Coupe, but it disappeared again when the Germans decided to introduce the CL-Class range in 1998. Sixteen years later, the coupe body returned as part of the sixth-generation S-Class (W222), and, along with it, the Stuttgart crew launched the S63 AMG Coupe, the most powerful two-door, full-size car in Mercedes' history.

While the S-Class Coupe hardly found any competition from its traditional BMW->ke178 and Audi->ke14 rivals, who have yet to develop coupes based on the 7 Series and A8, respectively, the S65 AMG Coupe propels the Mercedes-Benz brand straight into Bentley->ke15 and Rolls-Royce->ke74 territory. The Merc has the power, the luxury and all the other credentials to compete with the big boys, but will it stand a chance against the best vehicles the British have to offer? Check out our review to find out more.

Updated 10/01/2014: The most powerful model in the new S-Class Coupe lineup - aka the S65 AMG Coupe will be put on sale this December at a starting price of $230,900. Prices exclude $925 destination & delivery fee.

Click past the jump to read more about the 2015 Mercedes S65 AMG Coupe.

2015 Mercedes S65 AMG Coupe

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2015 Mercedes S65 AMG Coupe
  • Engine/Motor: V12
  • Horsepower: 621 @ 4800
  • Torque: 738 @ 2300
  • Transmission: AMG SPEEDSHIFT PLUS 7G-TRONIC
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

Design-wise, the S65 AMG Coupe is a mix between the S-Class Coupe and the S65 AMG Sedan. It blends the stylish and sleek lines of the standard coupe with the aggressive, AMG->ke8-crafted touches seen of the beefed-up sedan. Up front, the main novelty is the chrome trimming surrounding everything from the twin-blade radiator grille to the air intakes in the bumper and the splitter. The latter is also new compared to the standard coupe and features a three-dimensional design that helps increase downforce at the front axle.

From the side, the S65 AMG Coupe shines even more with chrome inserts in the side skirts, high-sheen, polished wheels and "V12 BITURBO" lettering on the front fenders. Around back, the twin-exhaust configuration is there to let us know there's a V-12 engine at the other end, while the gloss-black rear diffuser is finished off with a chrome trim at the bottom. Really setting the coupe apart from the sedan from the rear are the coupe's narrow taillights

As with most Mercedes-Benz vehicles, the S65 AMG can be customized in numerous ways by means of factory and bespoke exterior colors and additional forged wheel designs.

Interior

Two words can be used to describe the S65 AMG Coupe's interior: luxury and sportiness. The cabin is packaged with the company's finest materials, with acres of leather covering most surfaces. The AMG sports seats are wrapped with Designo Exclusive Nappa leather finished in a diamond-pattern with AMG badges displayed on the backrests. The huge center console, the lower area of the dashboard and the door panels all borrow the color of the upholstery, but customers can also customize the cabin in more than one way, with at least four colors available.

Besides the exclusive seats, the coupe also benefits from Nappa leather roof liner, leather-clad roof grab handles, chromed door pins and stainless-steel door sills illuminated in white.

There are several more details that make the S65 AMG Coupe stand out when compared to the sedan, and one of them is the AMG, three-spoke steering wheel. Also exclusive to the S65 AMG Coupe, the new steering wheel features a perforated leather grip area, an AMG badge at the bottom of the main spoke and a pair of shift paddles.

Behind the steering wheel, customers will get to read the car's vital information and more on the familiar AMG instrument cluster. The 12.2-inch, high-resolution TFT unit displays two animated round dials for engine and vehicle speed, among others, while the speedometer and the rev counter come in a distinctive AMG look.

Also included as standard is a head-up display showing key information such as navigation directions, traffic signs, speed limits, and many more. The head-up display is joined by Mercedes' innovative touchpad that can be used to operate all of the infotainment functions, the radio, telephone, and the navigation system.

Drivetrain

Under the hood of the S63 AMG Coupe lies the same 6.0-liter, V-12 powerplant available in its sedan sibling. The heart transplant means output figures remain unchanged in the coupe, but that's no cause for concern, as this biturbo unit cranks out no less than 621 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque. Responsible for sending all that power to the rear wheels is an AMG Speedshift Plus 7G-Tronic transmission that comes with three individual driving modes. Controlled Efficiency returns better fuel economy with help from a start/stop function, while Sport and Manual emphasize the vehicle's powerful and dynamic character.

Being lighter than the sedan, the two-door is also faster on the 0-to-60 mph sprint, needing only four seconds to cover the distance. By comparison, the sedan takes 4.2 seconds to accelerate from naught to 60 mph. The coupe's top speed is electronically limited to 186 mph in the United States, and that's a good reason for U.S. customers not to be disappointed. In Europe, for instance, the limiter stops the vehicle from going over 155 mph.

Type

AMG 6.0-litre V12 biturbo engine

Output

621 HP @ 4800-5400 rpm

Max. torque

738 Lb-FT @ 2300-4300 rpm

Acceleration 0-60 mph

4.0 seconds

Top speed

186 mph


Suspension

Just like the S65 AMG Sedan, the S65 AMG Coupe is fitted with the company's Magic Body Control suspension. If you're not familiar with the system, it combines three different functions -- Active Body Control, Road Surface Scan, and curve tilting -- and allows the S65 AMG Coupe to lean into bends for a "more pleasant motoring experience". Comfort is further enhanced by a speed-sensitive sports steering with variable ratio, which provides the coupe with better handling and agility through more steering assistance.

With 621 horsepower on tap, the S65 AMG needs equally powerful brakes. That why AMG spared no expense and fitted the coupe with its latest, high-performance, compound brake system. The new design is more than 20-percent lighter than a conventional braking system and can be upgraded to the available ceramic-compound system.

Prices

In the U.S. market the all-new 2015 S65 AMG Coupe will be priced from $230,900.

Competition

Bentley Continental GT Speed

Revised for the 2015 model year, the Continental GT Speed is a little more powerful than the S65 AMG Coupe at 626 horsepower. However, the British coupe lags behind in terms of torque, with only 607 pound-feet coming out of the enormous, 6.0-liter, W-12 mill. Despite missing more than 100 pound-feet of twist when compared to the Merc, the GT Speed is equally impressive as far as performance figures go. This Bentley-badged monster needs just four seconds to reach 60 mph from a standing start and an additional five seconds to touch the 100-mph mark. When it comes to top speed, the British rig can go up to 206 mph, surpassing the S65 AMG Coupe's 186-mph limit.

Design-wise, the Continental GT Speed is both muscular and elegant, although it misses all the glitter surrounding the brand-new S-Class. The traditional Bentley interior with acres of leather and wood inlays make the GT Speed a worthy rival to the S65 AMG Coupe. Pricing starts from $203,500 in the United States, theoretically making it cheaper than the Merc (based on Euro-to-USD exchange rates).

Rolls-Royce Wraith

Playing in the same league as the S65 AMG Coupe and the Continental GT Speed is the Rolls-Royce Wraith. Arguably the most commanding of the bunch, the Wraith is not just about impressive looks, but about neck-snapping amounts of power and torque too. At the heart of the Wraith lies a 6.6-liter, V-12 engine good for 624 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque. Just like the Speed GT, the Wraith matches the S65 AMG's horsepower figure, but lacks in the torque department by having a deficit of more than 100 pound-feet. The V-12 engine and ZF 8-speed automatic combo are good for 4.4 seconds to 60 mph and a top speed of around 186 mph.

Naturally, the interior is where the Rolls-Royce Wraith really shines. The cabin is packed with the finest Phantom-grade leather, all sorts of special wood veneers, and a bevy of standard features in the technology department, including an "on-board valet" to send data to the navigation menu. The Wraith fetches more than $250,000 in the United States, more than what the S65 AMG Coupe will start from.

Conclusion

Aside from the very expensive price tag and Mercedes' annoying habit to offer its models in an endless amount of dull colors (read various shades of grey, silver, dark blue and black), the S65 AMG Coupe is a vehicle you can't really complain about. And just like the Rolls-Royce Wraith and the Bentley Continental GT Speed, is a case of "if you have to ask about the price, you can't afford it." Speaking of which, the Mercedes is dangerously expensive when compared to the Wraith. I know both marques share an equally-impressive past and market share, but nothing compares to Rolls-Royce when it comes to interior amenities and individualization options.