Farewell, V12! Mercedes-AMG S65 variants no longer offered in SA…

By: CAR magazine

Mercedes-Benz South Africa has quietly removed all three Mercedes-AMG S65 variants from its local range, marking the end of the V12 engine in the local S-Class line-up.

The S65 long-wheelbase sedan, coupé and cabriolet are no longer listed on the German firm’s local website. They had been priced at R3 642 414, R3 877 733 and R4 044 633 respectively before their removal.

Interestingly, though, the Mercedes-Maybach S650 is still listed on Mercedes-Benz SA’s configurator, so the twelve-cylinder unit isn’t quite dead yet. The S63 derivatives, each powered by a 4,0-litre V8, remain.

Of course, we knew this day was coming because back in March 2019, the Mercedes-AMG S65 Final Edition was revealed at the Geneva International Motor Show, effectively signalling the end of the road for Affalterbach’s V12 engine thanks to increasingly strigent emissions regulations in Europe.

For the record, the 6,0-litre unit generates 463 kW and 1 000 N.m, directed to the rear axle via a seven-speed automatic transmission.

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