Mercedes Powers into LA Motor Show

The S63 AMG, CL63 AMG and Maybach 62 S will celebrate their North American debut at the Los Angeles Automobile Show, open to the public December 1 – 10, 2006. The S63 AMG sedan and the CL63 AMG coupe are both powered by the first engine developed entirely by AMG -- a 6.3-liter normally aspirated V8 that produces 518 horsepower and 465 lb.-ft. of torque. Infused with even greater power and enhanced agility, the Maybach 62 S delivers a level of performance expected in an exotic sports car while maintaining the extraordinary luxury and comfort of the world’s finest super-luxury sedan.

AMG Racing Success Spawns High-Power Production Engine

One of the most powerful naturally aspirated production V8s ever, the new 6.3-liter engine boasts a wealth of exciting features derived from AMG’s highly successful racing efforts. Built almost completely from a high-strength silicon-aluminum alloy, this powerful new engine features four valves per cylinder, variable valve timing, bucket followers (rather than rocker arms) and a variable intake manifold. Designed entirely by AMG, the engine shares no parts with Mercedes-Benz other V8 engines. A first for a production engine, the cylinder bores feature a twin-wire-arc-sprayed (TWAS) coating, a new process that results in impressively low friction and running surfaces that are twice as hard as conventional cast-iron cylinders.

Maybach 62 S: 604-Horsepower Twin-Turbo V12

The Maybach was designed to drive like a private luxury jet for the road, and the new 62 S model takes that analogy to an even higher level – “a jet with an afterburner.” Like the 57 S, the 62 S is powered by a higher-performance version of the Maybach twin-turbo, intercooled V12 engine. Designed and hand-built by Mercedes-AMG, the 62 S powerplant displaces six liters, a half-liter more than the standard engine. With higher turbo boost pressure and other modifications, the 62 S engine produces an impressive 604 horsepower and a massive 738 pound-feet of torque from as low as 2,000 rpm.

To balance its increased acceleration, the Maybach 62 S chassis has been modified to provide sharper handling response, with firmer air suspension and shock absorbers as well as thicker stabilizer bars. The suspension has been specially tuned to work with new 11-spoke, 20-inch alloy wheels fitted with 275/45 R 20 Michelin Pilot Sport tires (versus 19-inch wheels on the standard 57 model).

The new chassis provides even more impressive handling without unduly compromising the car’s whisper-smooth ride. In addition, the ESP stability control and traction control programming have been revised to allow the driver to get the most out of the additional performance.