New York Preview: Mercedes-Benz CL65 AMG

New York Auto Show: 2008 Mercedes-Benz CL65 AMG

While most everything in the MB AMG stable ( including the CL63 AMG ) is getting or has already gotten AMG's monster 6.2L 500+ horsepower all-motor V8 crammed underhood, the big CL-class coupe is the beneficiary of a second AMG upgrade. The CL65 AMG, arriving fall '07, receives the 6.0L biturbo V12 thrust carnival found in it's S-Class AMG cousin. This is a perfectly good thing, as the powerplant is good for 612 horses and a tire liquefying 738 lb-ft of torque. 62 miles per hour arrives in 4.4 seconds -- no small feat, given the CL's 4,900-lb curb weight. Those kind of numbers are usually reserved for aftermarket tuning houses whose upgraded machinery costs a lot more than the factory AMG cars.

The CL65 AMG debut coincides with AMG's 40th anniversary, and, as such, a special (and very limited) edition is available. Only forty CL65 "40th Anniversary" cars will be built, and each one is finished in liquid-metallic-looking Alubeam paint, which has previously appeared on Mercedes-Benz show cars only. Inside, diamond-patterned quilted leather, an Alcantara headliner, and edition-specific trim such as embossed "V12" headrest logos and carbon fiber accents round out the package. The rest of the car features everything you expect from AMG, including the tasteful aero kit and big split-spoke wheels. If you can't afford an SLR (not many can), this big coupe may well be the next best thing you can drive out of a Mercedes dealership.

Press release after the jump.

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