The question of who invented the automobile will always be disputed in one way or another. Some claim the first automobile was built back in the mid-to-late 1700s by a Frenchman named J. Connieu, but the man who is credited for creating the first modern automobile is Karl Benz. He patented the Benz Motor Car No. 1 back in 1886. That wasn’t all he patented, though. He also invented and patented his own carburetor, radiator, gear shifter and even spark plugs. Suffice it to say, I bet Mr. Benz never thought his three-wheeled, gas-powered, horseless carriage would be the roots for one of the world’s largest auto manufacturers, but it did, and today it is known as the Daimler Auto Group.

In honor of that legendary horseless carriage, which is considered today as the first “modern” automobile, Mercedes->ke187 has created a special edition->ke2041 of the Mercedes-AMG S63 4MATIC Cabriolet – dubbed “Edition 130.” As you might have guessed, was named Edition 130 because 2016 is the 130th anniversary of the modern automobile. Even further, the Edition 130 will be limited to the production of only 130 units.

With that said, let’s take a look at the Mercedes-AMG S63 4MATIC Cabriolet Edition 130 and what went into making the car that honors the first modern automobile.

Continue reading to learn more about the Mercedes-AMG S 63 4MATIC Cabriolet "Edition 130".

What makes the Mercedes-AMG S 63 4Matic Cabriolet "Edition 130" special

The S63 4Matic Edition 130 made its debut at the Detroit Auto Show->ke222 this year and is surely drawing a lot of attention. First, Mercedes-AMG started off by painting the exterior in a special Alubeam Silver finish, with a fabric convertible top in Bordeaux Red. The car rides on beautiful, Matte Black, 10-spoke wheels. The brake calipers are also painted red, adding a little color contrast to the lower half of the vehicle.

On the inside, the Edition 130 is covered in exclusive Nappa leather that can be had in an optional crystal gray and black or as pictured here in Bengal Red and black. Trim inserts are AMG carbon/piano lacquer black, adding to the exclusivity of this limited edition model. As you can see, “AMG Edition 130” is engraved on the middle steering wheel spoke and on the center console lid. Down on the floors, the Floor mats also carry on the color scheme in either Bengal red or crystal gray. Just look at how all that precious red leather accents the alubeam silver finish outside.

In addition, the car comes with a tailor-made indoor car cover from AMG, which is embroidered with “Edition 130” as well as numbering to indicate which of the 130 that specific model is. At key handover, a special welcome package is given to the new owner. The key and key ring is handed over in a special aluminum box. So does the Edition 130 live up to honoring Mr. Benz and the very first automobile? Well, he’s not here to speak for himself, but I certainly think he would be happy to see how far the automobile has come since he designed that three-wheeled horseless carriage.

The Edition 130 will hit the market in April of 2016 and will go for €226,457 or $245,434 at current exchange rates. It comes with the 5.5-liter Biturbo V-8 as the standard Mercedes-AMG model. For those of you who don’t know, that engine puts out 585 horsepower, 664 pound-feet of torque and can hit 62 mph in 3.8 seconds.

Mercedes-AMG S 63 4Matic Cabriolet

The Mercedes-AMG S63 Cabriolet was the first convertible version of the of the S-Class in more than 40 years. Fortunately, Mercedes decided to go with the same styling of its coupe and sedan brethren. The car comes with its own uniqueness, including a three-layered canvas roof and loads of technology, including a digital instrument cluster, neck heaters, and it even had a new climate control system. Needless to say, the S63 Cabriolet was a welcome addition to the S-Class lineup, and hopefully it will stick around for a long time.

Read our full review on the Mercedes-AMG S 63 4Matic Cabriolet here.