New York 2014: New Mercedes S 63 AMG coupé debuts

The new Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG coupé has made its public debut at the New York motor show. The plush four-seater replaces the CL63 AMG at the upper end of the Mercedes-Benz line-up, where it aims to provide stiff competition for the Bentley Continental GT and Aston Martin Rapide.

Power for the hot new coupé comes from AMG’s twin-turbocharged 5.5-litre V8 engine. With 577bhp at 5500rpm, the direct-injection petrol unit kicks out 40bhp more than the similarly configured engine used by the CL63 AMG. Torque remains the same as before, with a peak of 91.66kgm at 2250rpm.

The heady reserves are channelled through a standard seven-speed AMG Speedshift automatic gearbox. As with the recently introduced S63 AMG saloon, buyers can now choose between standard rear-wheel drive and optional 4Matic four-wheel drive.

Mercedes-Benz claims a 65kg reduction in overall weight over the old CL63 AMG, both for the rear-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive S63 AMG coupés, which are claimed to weigh the same - 1995kg.

The identical weight is down to differing underpinnings. The rear-drive car has as standard AirMatic air suspension with an optional corner tilt function, whereas the four-wheel-drive version receives a more conventional and lighter steel-sprung suspension.

The rear-drive S63 AMG coupé is claimed to hit 100kph from standstill in 4.3sec and return 11.9kpl. The S63 AMG coupé 4Matic can crack the 100 mark in 3.9sec and is rated at 11.64. Each model has a top speed limited to 250kph.

As well as air suspension, the rear-wheel-drive S63 AMG coupé comes with Mercedes-Benz’s Magic Body Control system. This consists of a number of different functions, including a road surface scanner and an active body control system available on the S63 AMG saloon.

In a first for the S63 AMG coupé, buyers can also add the German carmaker’s new cornering tilt function, which automatically inclines the body by up to 2.5deg at speeds between 30kph and 180kph.