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Mercedes spotted prepping new S63 AMG Cabrio

If the market for convertibles is on the decline, nobody seems to have told the fellas over at Mercedes-Benz. The German automaker keeps adding more droptops to its lineup, and soon it will have one more on its hands in the form of the new S-Class Cabriolet. And here we have photos of the new flagship cabrio getting ready for its big debut – but not in just any old form. This would appear to be the new S63 AMG convertible. As the S-Class Coupe is already out there in various states of tune, we're not expecting any major surprises from the new convertible. Look for a folding fabric roof mechanism to open up a spacious four-seat cabin. A car with which Benz can attack the likes of the Bentley Continental GTC especially, but also the Maserati GranTurismo Convertible, Aston Martin DB9 Volante, and the upcoming Rolls-Royce Dawn (the drophead version of the Wraith). The AMG version ought to help that effort even more, complete with Affalterbach's 5.5-liter twin-turbo V8, fully expected to pack the same 577 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque as the other S63 models. We're anticipating Daimler to take the wraps off the S-Class cabrio at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show, but we'll have to wait to see if the AMG version appears alongside it or follows at some later date. Related Video:

Audi RS3 Sedan coming to America with over 400 hp?

The Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG is a fast, competent car. It's significantly sharper than the Audi S3, and it should be, since its starting price is around $7,000 more. Still, getting walloped by the higher-performing CLA45 AMG must irk some people at Audi, we'd think, which might explain why there are rumors that the S3's big brother is coming to town. Yes, reports are popping up from an Audi of America employee that the Audi RS3 would transition from its Euro-market Sportback body style to a more conventional four-door, and that its styling would be updated in the process. Oh, and it'll have a 400-plus-horsepower, 2.5-liter, five-cylinder turbo with which to bash the four-cylinder AMG. The report comes from Quattro World by way of CarScoops, and goes on to claim that Audi hallmarks like Quattro all-wheel drive and a seven-speed S-Tronic dual-clutch transmission will both be present. The new RS3 Sedan would arrive on US shores in 2017 as a 2018 model, with prices starting between $55,000 and $60,000. That should make Mercedes-AMG very nervous – the CLA45 may start around $50,000, but getting it past the $60,000-range is simple (your author was driving a nearly $68,000 CLA45 just last month, for example). Naturally, we have a call in with Audi of America to see if there's any credence to this report. Stay tuned for updates. Related Video:

Mercedes-AMG C63 Coupe launches with DTM-styled Edition 1 [w/video]

It's not as flashy or fantastical as the concept cars, big luxury cars, and exotics being shown here at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show, but the Mercedes-AMG C63 Coupe still gets us really excited. That's because it's a semi-attainable production car; like, we'll actually get to drive it, and soon. The C63 Coupe builds upon the gorgeous, two-door C-Class that also made its debut at the Frankfurt show. It's powered by the same twin-turbocharged, 4.0-liter V8 as the C63 sedan, producing either 469 or 503 horsepower, depending on the model. If the sedan's driving dynamics are anything to go on, the C63 Coupe ought to be a total riot. For the occasion of its premiere, Mercedes brought the C63 Edition 1 to Frankfurt, wearing a unique paint job that mimics the look of the automaker's recently unveiled DTM racer. The Edition 1 rolls on unique wheels – measuring 19 inches in front and 20 inches out back – and comes with unique aerodynamic enhancements, more gloss and chrome trim, and racing buckets inside. Edition 1 or not, the C63 Coupe is a car we're very happy to welcome to the world. We can't wait to test one.