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2015 Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG Coupe

For Mercedes-Benz to truly demonstrate the capabilities and sensations of the S65 AMG Coupe, it needs to commission the building of a highway halfway to the moon. That's right, a ribbon of Autobahn roughly 120,000 miles long, with 50,000 miles of twisties and sweepers. Let's even add some loop-de-loops though the ionosphere, since, you know, we're going all the way with this. We've been following the headlines about progress on a new lunar lander and the SpaceX Mars Colonial Transporter, but we recently discovered that we've already got both of them in the S65 AMG Coupe. This isn't a car, it's a rocket ship. And it's not perfect, but it is spectacular. Starting with the way it looks. When Mercedes unveiled the concept at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show, I wasn't impressed. In fact, I told the Mercedes PR person, "It's fine, but the rear end doesn't do anything for me." And today? I'll have the crow, please, with lots of ketchup. When the test car you see here arrived, my loins tumbled and my knees developed a slight tremble. By the following week I was posing thought experiments like, "What's hotter: me in this car, or nothing else ever?" It's big – just eight inches shorter than the S-Class sedan and only an inch narrower. It's an inch longer than the Porsche Panamera and four inches wider, but just 0.3-inches taller than that slinking sport sedan. Its size and segment seem to have freed the designers' pens, and we think it's the best and most unapologetic expression of the brand's current language. We'd normally vote "nay" to a face full of chrome, but the coupe has the width to spread the polished elements around, and the top-to-bottom three-dimensionality indeed earns the adjective "jewel-like." A button on the center console lifts the entire car to protect those jewels when needed. The profile doesn't give up on the rising, sculpted wedge we've known for years – the one we used to love on the SL-Class. And again, the 16.6-foot expanse of sheet metal gives those opposing swage lines an unhurried opportunity to carve the body. The sidelong swell is enhanced by the carbon-fiber rocker panel laid into the concavity along the bottom, as well as those hips over the rear wheels. Speaking of which, the polished, 20-inch forged rollers are spot on. The bluff backside is sculpted just enough to keep it interesting, from the decklid spoiler to the horizontals across the bumper and carbon diffuser. Mostly, though, it seems to say to anyone behind, "Please.

Mercedes-Maybach SUV concept headed for Beijing reveal in April

Mercedes-Benz has toyed with the idea of a Maybach SUV for at least 11 years. According to Autocar, we'll finally see a concept with production intent at the Beijing Motor Show next month, the luxury SUV slated for market release next year. As has been the rumor for at least six years, the Maybach people carrier will be based on a stretched version of the GLS, which moves to the company's new Modular High Architecture with the 2019 model. Back in 2007 when Maybach was its own brand and selling roughly 300 units per year, Car magazine reported that brand chiefs were interested in convertible versions of the Maybach 57 and 62 sedans, and an SUV. Maybach built a one-off concept based on the GL — the former GLS-Class — in 2009, but never took the idea further. The rumor popped up again in 2014, then in 2015, reaching not-if-but-when status early last year. A decade on, it's finally time to play the hand. Even though the super-luxe SUV would sit on a stretched version of what is already a three-row SUV, it's reasonable to expect the Maybach SUV will only get two rows. That would give designers plenty of extra room for seating luxury and amenities even beyond the S-Class Maybach. On the other hand, if Mercedes sticks to the rough Maybach playbook so far, a triple-row Maybach would be the only such SUV in the mid- to upper-six-figures. The S-Class 560 4Matic starts at $102,990, the S 560 4Matic Maybach starts at $168,600. Applying that spread to the $94,500 GLS 550, you'd land around $160,000 before adding the markup for a new generation. That kind of starter pricing might make a great tweener proposition. Mercedes could focus on a range of buyers who want to go upscale from the $125,300 AMG GLS 63, without needing to worry — yet — about challenging Bentley and Rolls-Royce. Power is said to come from some version of the company's oft-applied 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 that puts out 462 horsepower in the S 560, but the 3.0-liter inline-six hybrid in the S 560e is under consideration. We'll know next month, when the lightly veiled concept takes the stand in China. The full-on production version should get an introduction at this year's L.A. Auto Show. Related Video:

Brabus 600 brings a dose of black subtlety to Frankfurt

The latest AMG-fettled C-Class from Mercedes-Benz is a wonderful thing. It's turbocharged heart may displace just 4.0 liters, but that forced-induction powerhouse spits out 503 ponies and 516 pound-feet of torque. That's enough to satisfy even the most power-mad compact luxury sedan junkie, right? Apparently not, as the Brabus 600 now exists in this world, and it just debuted at the 2016 Frankfurt Motor Show. As its name suggests, the turbocharged wick has been increased up to 600 horsepower (or 591 if you're not metric) and 590 lb-ft of torque. Shuttled through all four wheels via a seven-speed automatic transmission, that's enough gumption to push the Brabus 600 to 62 miles per hour in 3.8 seconds, which is a tenth quicker than the regular Mercedes-AMG C63 S sedan. Top speed nudges up from 180 mph to 186, or an even 300 kilometers per hour. Of course, this wouldn't be a proper Brabus if it didn't sport a bunch of body modifications, and the 600 doesn't disappoint. There are diffusers, spoilers, and wings galore in clear-coated carbon fiber with either a matte or shiny surface, depending on the buyer's preference. All of that looks pretty cool, but we're less smitten with the oversize fender outlets. Aluminum monoblock wheels measuring 20 inches in diameter and fitted with carbon accents round out the body kit. Inside, Brabus fits the 600 with a custom leather interior that can be tailored for each buyer. A new speedometer that goes to 340 kmh (211 mph), redesigned aluminum paddle shifters, and, of course, stainless steel scuff plates with a color-changing Brabus logo. Because who doesn't love subtlety? If you want to know more, there's a full press release down below. But what you really need to do is scroll through the image gallery above to take it all in. Enjoy. Related Video: World premiere at the IAA 2015 New from BRABUS: 600 horsepower, 800 Nm and 300 km/h for the Mercedes C 63S A rated power output of 441 kW / 600 HP (591 bhp). A peak torque of 800 Nm (590 lb-ft). A sprint time of 3.8 seconds from 0 – 100 km/h (62 mph). A top speed of 300 km/h (186 mph). And exclusive sporty options from aerodynamic enhancement and wheels to the suspension and the interior: At the 2015 IAA in Frankfurt am Main, BRABUS (Brabus-Allee, D-46240 Bottrop, phone + 49 / (0) 2041 / 777-0, fax + 49 / (0) 2041 / 777 111, Internet www.brabus.com) presents an extensive tuning program for the new Mercedes C 63S in a world premiere.