A Difficult Goodbye: The Final Edition Mercedes-AMG S65
The AMG S 65 might not have caught on, but the end of its production might signal the end of an era.
Written by Tom Hindle
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
Car manufacturers twerk their production systems to scrap out, revive
old models
, or bring entirely new inventions every year. It is a lose or win situation. But whatever the explanation is, saying a final goodbye to the Mercedes- Benz
AMG S 65 sedan came a little earlier than most of us had anticipated.This S-Class-badged car dominated the latter half of the 2000s thanks to a treasured V12 engine and a fantastic glut of luxurious features. Still, it’s going to exit the lineup—and quickly, too. So, what happened, and why did the revolutionary car fall out of favor?
The short-lived history of the AMG S 65
The S-class family dates back to 1954. The S-Class, or Sonderklasse in its native tongue, has covered a wide variety of different vehicle shapes, from the standard sedan to limousines, and even armored cars.
But there are clear threads that run through the different trim levels.
Primarily, the S-Class has always been a testing ground for luxury spec. More recent models have toyed with facial recognition, augmented reality navigation, and air suspension. There’s also a signature level of performance about the model, with classic Mercedes engineering playing a crucial role.
In 2003, Mercedes took everything a step further, by chucking a powerful V12 engine into an S-Class and souping up the model with its “AMG” sports package. Such a shift attracted hefty media attention, but the S 65 didn’t sell out immediately.
Instead, it became clear that the V12 was perhaps too much for the S Class. Furthermore, environmental concerns about the workability of the engine—as well as the fact that it simply didn’t make the car much better to drive—made it a less appealing buy. As such, sales tanked.
Let Jerry find your price in only 45 seconds
No spam · No long forms · No fees
Are Mercedes AMG S 65 final editions for everyone?
More: Mercedes-Benz Is Going Full Electric with EQS
Still, Mercedes has pushed on with the model. And now, the AMG S 65 will be available in one last collector’s edition.
It projects to be exclusive, as only 130 lucky customers will enjoy the luxury of owning the final edition of AMG S 65. The car comes in the iconic Obsidian black coat, adorned with bronze accents and a deluxe interior.
The iconic black leather upholsteries, with gorgeous carbon fiber and a unique floor mat, spice up the cabin. The company also added smooth ride features to avoid potholes.
And the innovation gets even more audacious from there. The car comes with a refrigerated console for fresh desserts and a magical sky control panoramic sunroof you can change from opaque to transparent with a mere press of a button. If you want to sip something along the way, use the temperature-controlled cup holders. They can warm or cool down your drink.
All of this comes at a pretty penny, though:
Motor 1
reported that the S Class AMG will set you back $265,000. There is nothing like the V12 engine of the AMG S 65
Nowadays, V12 engines are rare. High fuel intake, environmental concerns, efficiency issues, and high-tech production make them less relevant. Most carmakers are turning to compact and better 4.0-liter V8 engines.
The AMG’s V12 might well be the swansong of the V12 generation. It generates 621 hp, and 768 lb-ft of torque, enough to propel the sedan from 0-60 in under 4 seconds. Such pace, power, and acoustics are unlikely to be replicated in a sedan anytime soon.
Protect your car with insurance deals
Although Mercedes has scrapped the AMG S 65, you still need to protect your car with the right insurance. To find the best deal, try
Jerry
. A licensed broker, Jerry does all the hard work of finding cheap quotes from the top name-brand insurance companies and buying new car insurance. Jerry will even help you cancel your old policy.And to ensure you always have the lowest rate, Jerry will send you new quotes every time your policy comes up for renewal, so you’re always getting the coverage you want at the best price. Jerry works, too, as the average user saves $879 per year.
4.7
