And what a treatment it is: a 6.3-liter V12 biturbo with 800 hp (hence the name) that makes this car not only the most powerful, but, with a top speed of 370 km/h (231 mph), also the fastest four-seater cabriolet in the world.
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In the U.S., Mercedes-Benz is planning a full attack this year starting with the launch of the second-generation CLS sports saloon in June. Today, the Stuttgart-based premium carmaker released a list outlining the arrival dates and the changes for its 2012 model year cars and SUVs in the States. Follow the jump to check it out in detail.
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Flash forward to 2011. At the Essen Motor Show in December of last year, European specialist coachbuilder Binz announced the Xtend E-Class estate, and now the car has entered production. By slotting in an extra 861 mm between the rear doors and rear axle, Binz have extended the estate’s cargo volume to a whopping 2620 litres. That’s better than some vans.
We’ve also included the “Third man” commercial from a few years back, in which the “New Flying Finn” trumps the younger Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton. You can watch both videos after the jump.
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Other than that, what do you need to know? Not much, actually. The car's length, wheelbase, and rear legroom have increase by 14 cm (5.5 inches) and the front seats can be controlled from the back (so don't let jerks sit in the back...).
Equipped with the Brabus ECO PowerXtra CGI kit, the four-valve four-cylinder direct-injection engines in the C200 and E200 CGI BlueEFFICIENCY models produce an additional 26HP and 30 Nm (22 lb-ft) of torque.
Starting with the engine upgrades, the most powerful option is for the E500 (E550 in the U.S.A.) Convertible. The stock 388HP 5.5-liter V8 unit is bored out to 6.1-liters, while the conversion also includes new cylinder heads and camshafts, a custom exhaust system and catalyst as well as a recalibrated ECU.
The result is an overall output of 462HP and 615Nm (453-lb-ft) of peak torque, for a 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint time of 4.7 seconds and a top speed of 300 km/h (186 mph).
Available for the E 250 CDI, E 350 CDI, E 250 CGI and E 350 CGI BlueEFFICIENCY models as well as for the E 500, all Prime Edition models come with a unique tenorite grey metallic paintwork and AMG 6-twin-spoke light-alloy wheels.
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The hybrid system pairs a 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel engine developing 204HP with a 20HP (15kW) electric motor for a combined output of 224 horsepower and a torque of over 580 Nm or 427.8 lb-ft.
With this car you show respect. When you look at the engine, you call it by its name; it's an SV12 R Biturbo 800. That makes it a 5.5 liter V12 that's been bored and stroked to 6.3 liters, gets all-new internals, sport-cam'd heads, and breathes through an all-new intake system hooked up to a functional RAM-air hood.
Twin turbochargers handle exhaust duty before the stainless exhaust system spits the fumes through sport cats and out the back (it's even Euro IV emissions-compliant).
Thanks to the recalibrated ECU, the addition of a sport air filter and a new sport exhaust system, the 5.5-liter V8 engine gets a jump from 388HP and 530Nm to 435HP and 575Nm (424 lb-ft) helping the German Coupe to reach a top speed of 280km/h or 174 mph.
A height-adjustable sport suspension that allows the driver to low the E500 Coupe's body anywhere between 20mm and 65mm and a high-performance brake system with 6-caliper brakes and 378 mm disks complete the list of performance modifications.
Vath's body kit includes a front lip spoiler, rear diffuser and boot lid spoiler, all made from carbon fiber, while the V50S rides on new 20-inch alloy wheels wrapped in tires size 245/30 R20 up front and 285/25 R20 at the back.
The German tuner also outfits the interior with a variety of accoutrements such as special leather trim, decorative carbon fiber inlays, and specific floor mats.
