Mercedes-Benz's largest and most opulent sedan finds itself aging in a field of younger, nimbler and less costly competitors. Premium sedans such as the BMW 750i and Audi A8 stand ready to lure customers away from the Mercedes-Benz flagship. Yet, for those seeking Mercedes' style and luxury, the S-Class' shapely lines, handsome interior and impressive technical wizardry make it a mode of transportation that is second to none.
The S65 AMG is powered by a hand-built, 6.0L V-12 engine that wears twin turbochargers to boost its output to 604 hp and 738 lb.-ft. of torque. You want a fast four-door? Consider a 0-to-60 time of just 4.2 seconds. Top speed is electronically limited to 155 miles per hour, which you can do on the German autobahn or a suitable racetrack.
The S450 has a 4.6 litre V8 with 339 ft-lb of torque and 335 HP. This smaller engine has the same torque as the dumbed-down 1999 - 2006 5.0 liter SL500 engine and 10% more power. It comes with a 7-speed automatic. It should go on sale in April 2006.
The S500 has a 5.5 litre variable-valve-timing V8 with 391 ft-lb of torque from 2,800 to 4,800 RPM and 382 HP. Now we're talking! Hallelujah! 0 - 60 MPH comes up in about 5.0 seconds, compared to the 3-valve V8's 6.0 seconds. European fuel economy is rated at 20 MPG. Hopefully we'll get this to replace the old 3-valve engine in 2007 SL500s and E500s. The S500 comes with a 7-speed automatic and goes on sale in February 2006.
The S600 has a twin-turbo intercooled 5.5 litre V12 with 612 ft-lb of torque and 510 HP. 0 - 60 MPH is rated at 4.4 seconds and European combined fuel economy is 16 MPG. Premium fuel costs about $8 a gallon in Germany. It comes with a 5-speed automatic. It should go on sale in April 2006. (The 2006 S600's torque was 590 ft-lbs.)