- Doors and Seats
2 doors, 4 seats
- Engine
4.7TT, 8 cyl.
- Engine Power
335kW, 700Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (95) 9.2L/100KM
- Manufacturer
RWD
- Transmission
Auto
- Warranty
3 Yr, Unltd KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
2018 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Cabriolet review
German brand tweaks its flagship S-Class Cabriolet
Harry Houdini’s elephants, David Copperfield's Statue of Liberty, Apollo from The Bachelorette’s chances with Sophie Monk; making things disappear has always been an impressive trick for magicians. But even their feats pale into insignificance compared to the vanishing act AMG has pulled off with the launch of its pair of performance-fettled S-Class Cabriolets.
The specification sheet for this duo of high-powered monsters clearly reports a bloated curb weight of more than 2.2 tonnes. But on the right road - engine thumping, exhaust howling and soft-top roof open to the sun - the vast bulk of that weight simply ups and vanishes, transforming AMG’s five-metre-long road yacht into something that is suddenly doing a genuinely convincing impression of a small and sporty performance car.
On open and sweeping tarmac, the S63 especially flows like a silk dress draped across a marble staircase, the nine-speed gearbox working seamlessly through its ratios, each change accompanied by a shotgun crack or an endlessly intoxicating machine-gun rattle, the sounds ricocheting around the plush open-air cabin in righteous anger.
These two AMGs - the bi-turbo V8-powered S63 and the S65 that sports a monstrous bi-turbo V12 under its bonnet - rightly headline the 2018 S-Class Cabriolet family, sitting above the (also V8-powered) S 560 Cabriolet, which replaces the existing S 500.
And just like with any magic trick, the vanished never stay gone forever, and it’s behind the wheel of the S 560 that the Cabriolet’s weight finally makes a partial return. The new 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine (borrowed from AMG) produces 345kW and 700Nm, and does a sensational job of pushing the big Mercedes along with effortless ease, but the tyres squeal and the brakes work themselves into a frenzy should you try and squeeze the same athleticism from it.
But then, your average S-Class is about as likely to star in the next Bathurst 12-hour as it is grow legs, and so fortunately chopping off the roof has done little to dent the top-shelf Merc’s luxurious appeal. The roof itself, which opens and closes in 20 seconds and at speeds of “about 60km/h” is a triple-layered and sound-deadening setup, and one that Mercedes’ claims makes the convertible just as quiet as the hardtop versions when the soft-top is in place.
Roof up, the interior is as cosseting and comfortable as you’d expect, with a sea of soft Nappa leather and fine woodgrain covering every conceivable touchpoint, and an (optional) driver energising system that pairs with the seat controls, stereo, cabin lighting and a fragrance dispenser to create a specific mood in the cabin, from freshness to warmth, vitality, joy or comfort.
The S-Class Cab's autonomous technology is smarter than ever, too, from the Magic Body Control system that will add 2.65-degrees of opposite lean as you enter a corner to keep the cabin stable, to the driving assistance system that will not only keep up with traffic on the freeway, but will also change lanes on command and even read the vehicle's map data to slow automatically as you approach corners.
The S-Class Cabriolet's final trick? Its ability to make an estimated $330,000 disappear when it arrives in Australia in the second quarter of next year, with the AMG models to start from around $450,000 for the S63. While the S65 is still under consideration for our market, Mercedes-Benz will be launching the Maybach S650, which shares its hand-built V12 engine with its performance-fettled brother, and will cost more than $550,000.
Writer: Andrew Chesterton
2018 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Cabriolet Price and Specifications
Price: From $330,000 (estimated)
Engine: 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol
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Power: 345kW (S560)
Torque: 700Nm (S560)
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic, RWD
Fuel Use: TBA