MERCEDES BENZ S-Klasse AMG Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

The S 63 AMG was a kind of vehicle with a split personality that could either drive its occupants in comfort or it could be thrashed around a corner smoking its rear tires.

Available on both versions of the wheelbases of the S-Class (W222), this AMG version of the luxury car came on the market in 2013. The evolution of this car over its predecessor was massive not only in terms of features and amenities but also in terms of performance. Adding more power to the biturbo V8 was just one of the upgrades. It also had two extra gears in the gearbox and was available with an all-wheel drive system. That was a first for the AMG-branded S-Class.

The S 63 AMG sported a new front bumper that featured the AMG A-shaped lower grille and a pair of side grilles. Unlike its predecessor, it was not fitted with the five double-spoke wheels but with a pair of 19" multispoke ones. As an option, the car manufacturer offered a set of ten-spoke 20" set of alloys. At the back, the S 63 received a bumper with a new lower diffuser flanked by four squared exhausts.

The car's leather-wrapped interior left no room for mistakes: it was as luxurious as an S-Class could be. At the front, it featured bolstered, adjustable seats with all the functions someone could dream of, from heating and ventilation to massage functions. The complete digital dashboard offered a screen above the center stack placed under the same piece of glass as the instrument panel. Depending on the options, customers could choose either wood, leather, or carbon fiber trims. Like all AMGs from those times, the S 63 got aluminum pedals.

Under the hood, the Mercedes-AMG S 63 featured a 5.5-liter biturbo engine paired with a seven-speed AMG SPEEDSHIFT automatic transmission that sent its power to the rear or in all corners for the 4Matic versions.

Mercedes-Benz unveiled the S65 AMG in 2013 as the most potent German luxury sedan on the market, even though it was not the fastest one.

Launched simultaneously at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show and Los Angeles International Auto Show, the S65 AMG represented the top-of-the-range version for the German premium brand's flagship. It was available as a long-wheelbase only and just a rear-wheel-drive. Among the enhancements added to the specific version were the Magic Body Control suspension system, the carbo-ceramic dinner-dish disc-brakes, and the best performance options developed by AMG.

From the outside, the S65 AMG stated its intentions as a high-performance limo thanks to the enhanced AMG-style front bumper with an A-shaped lower grille. A pair of side scoops flanked it to cool the massive 420 mm (16.5") diameter disc brakes. A set of not-so-subtle chromed "V12 Biturbo" badges adorned the front fenders behind the wheel-arches. From its sides, the 20" forged light-alloy wheels sported fat tires both front and back.

Inside, the carmaker installed a luxurious, leather-clad interior. Most of the options from the rest of the S-Class range as standard features, such as the panoramic sliding roof, the Burmeister sound system, or the TFT display for the instrument panel, were fitted as standard on the S65 AMG. On top of that, a head-up display kept the driver better focused on the road.

With a 6.0-liter engine under the hood and a price tag in the Bentley range, the S65 AMG was one of the fastest luxury sedans in the world.

The S65 AMG was the top performer for the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. And it wasn't shy to show its muscles, to whoever had the eyes to see it.

The big luxury car from Mercedes-Benz was not at the first AMG treatment. Its predecessors were in the Affalterbach spa before and returned fresh and with loads of power. And there was more than more performance. There were some visual effects too.

The fifth generation of the S-Class was introduced in 2005 at the Frankfurt International Motor Show. It was praised for its sleek look and the press said that BMW and Mercedes swapped their designers. The AMG version featured a more aggressive styling than the stablemates. The V12 Biturbo badges on the front fenders confirmed that. Through the five-spoke specific light-alloy wheels, the vented and perforated disc-brake were shown as a statement of performance. The four oval exhausts in the back confirmed with a deep and powerful roar.

Inside, there was the same luxurious interior of an S-Class, but with a big load of features added to the list. In the back, there were two individual seats, with a refrigerator between them. The massage, cooling, and heated seats were part of a package.

The engine was a 6.0-liter V12 with two turbochargers. It was mated to the older 5G-Tronic gearbox since the newer 7G-Tronic couldn't resist the massive torque, which was limited to 1000 Nm (737.5 lb-ft). A special suspension was installed on the car, to keep the car better planted on the road.

In 2009, Mercedes-Benz introduced a new facelift for its upper-scale model, the S-Class. As usual with the German brand, it was also offered as an AMG version, more potent and muscular.

The luxury car-market required top-performance versions for the biggest models. In the same category as the Audi S8, BMW M-Performance, or Jaguar XJ-R there is the S-Class AMG version. A vehicle that offered both top luxury and high performances that will make a lot of sports cars sweating their cylinders to keep up with the big barge car.

The front of the car was strikingly more aggressive as its lesser engine versions. A big, central, air intake in the bumper was accompanied on its sides by the other two, for the brakes. Unlike other AMG versions, the S63 didn't feature the specific AMG grille, but the five-slats chromed one, that was less aggressive. The side-sills were aerodynamically enhanced for a sportier look and, on the front fenders, the 6.3 AMG badges were installed. The new 53 LED's in the form of a double “C” also gave the S-Class an unmistakable appearance from behind, along with the sports exhaust with two chromed twin tailpipes. The S63 AMG had 19-inch multi-spoke wheels painted titanium grey with a high-sheen finish and fitted with 255/40 (front) and 275/40 (rear) tires.

The engine and the transmission were kept the same as from the non-facelifted version, with a V8, 6.3-liter unit mated to a SPEEDSHIFT 7G-Tronic automatic.

The thrill for fast and luxurious sedans was accomplished for Mercedes-Benz by the top-of-the-range S 65 AMG, a car that offered a limousine experience with supercar performance.

Launched as a big, luxurious barge, the S-Class promised comfort, style, and a boost of image for its owner. The fifth-generation was launched in 2006 and it featured a very wide range of engines, starting with a 2.1-liter inline-four diesel unit that offered 204 hp up to the 612 hp S65 AMG. While the former might have been considered a good option for a taxi driver, the latter might have been named a sports limousine, since a sports sedan might have been an understatement.

The luxury barge showed its muscles on the outside with a specific look for the front bumper with a special design for the center air dam. On the sides, the smaller air scoops hosted the fog lights. On the front fenders, behind the very flared wheel arches, there was the V12 Biturbo silver badge that would tell something about its performance-oriented vehicle. Through the big, 5-spoke, specific AMG wheels there were huge cross-drilled brake discs. In the back, four oval exhausts were installed so the massive, turbocharged, engine could breathe easily.

Inside, there were some minor changes made according to the performance-oriented sedan. But it wasn't all carbon fiber and aluminum. The owner could have configured its car with leather and wood trims.

Under the hood, there was a 6.0-liter V12 engine fed by two turbochargers. It was mated to the 5G-Tronic gearbox, the only one available at that time to handle the huge torque.

The S-Class W221 received an AMG treatment in 2006. It was introduced at the Paris Motor Show and sales started at the beginning of 2007.

Mercedes-Benz S-Class was one of the most known luxury cars in the world. It was a state official vehicle for more countries and its features attracted wealthy men to drive it or to be driven in it. When the S63 AMG was introduced, it was aimed directly at those who preferred to sit behind the wheel rather than behind the driver.

The dynamic look of the 2005 S-Class was enhanced with the launch of the S63 AMG and S65 AMG. The luxury barge showed its muscles on the outside with a specific look for the front bumper with a special design for the center air dam. On the sides, the smaller air scoops hosted the fog lights. On the front fenders, behind the very flared wheel arches, there was the 6.3AMG silver badge that would tell something about its performance-oriented vehicle. Through the big multi-spoke, specific AMG 19” light-alloy wheels there were huge cross-drilled brake discs. In the back, four oval exhausts were installed so the V8 engine could breathe easily.

Inside, there were some minor changes made according to the performance-oriented sedan. But it wasn't all carbon fiber and aluminum. The owner could have configured its car with leather and wood trims. The car featured heated and ventilated seats and a massage function to rub away aches and pains on long trips.

For the S63 AMG, the car-maker installed a 6.2-liter naturally aspirated V8 engine. It was mated to a new, 7G-Tronic gearbox tuned to handle the big torque. It could propel the car to 100 kph (62 mph) in less than 5 seconds.

The 2004 S65 AMG came to reinforce the S-Class image on the market. With the new, sportier, design language, a proper performance model was needed. And the V12 was the best way.

In 1998, the new generation of the premium executive cars on the market was launched. BMW, Jaguar, and Audi A8 were already in the game when the 1999 Mercedes-Benz S-Class was unveiled. Its styling was surprising, with a much agile look than its predecessor. The W220 model, as it was its factory code-name, had a sleek design, far away from the previous W140 S-Class.

The S-Class W220 featured a new design language, with a lower profile, narrow headlights, and raked A-pillars The sloped greenhouse toward the straight trunk-lid was an aerodynamic-enhancement for a car that wasn't necessarily built for speed records. But in the end, the S65 was a record-breaker. The front bumper was different than the rest of the range, with more aggressive styling. The bigger light-alloy wheels allowed a view to the large, cross-drilled, brake-discs.

Inside, there was the same S-Class, a full blend of luxury items and features. Leather, heated, and ventilated seats were installed in the front. It was a clue that the car was mainly built for the driver and not for the rear passengers. Micro-ventilators moved air through the perforated leather upholstery.

The engine was a massive 6.0-liter V12 with 3 valves/cylinder. It was twin-turbocharged and since its torque was 1001 Nm (738 lb-ft). It was the most powerful 4-door sedan of its time, with over 600 hp available. In fact, it was too powerful for the newly developed 7G-Tronic gearbox, so the car had to use the older, but more reliable, 5G-Tronic.

AMG tuned the facelifted version of the W220 Mercedes-Benz S-Class and transformed the big luxury barge into a fast executive sedan.

Mercedes-Benz had its factory tuner division, namely AMG. It was a small department, compared to the MB size, yet it managed to get on the covers of most car magazines in the world. Since their early development stages, AMG had access to vehicles and knew what to do to make them fast, safe, and reliable. Maybe they were not the fastest tuned-versions for a Mercedes-Benz, but they were the most-desired versions for any Mercedes-Benz cars.

AMG had the difficult mission to make some changes to the car's exterior, but without compromising its elegant overall look. The engineers from Affalterbach installed a new front bumper that sported an A-shaped lower grille in the apron and two side-scoops. A set of extended side sills adorned the sides, matching the front bumper. A new set of twin-spoke, 18" light-alloy-wheels stamped by AMG was fitted as standard. In the back, Mercedes' in-house tuner installed a new bumper to make room for the four oval-shaped exhausts.

Inside, the S-55 AMG featured most of the luxury items offered by a full-option S-Class, with a leather-clad interior and high-bolstered seats. In the instrument cluster, the AMG version sported white-faced gauges.

AMG installed a naturally aspirated 5.4-liter V-8 and paired it to a five-speed automatic gearbox. For the suspension, the standard Active Body Control system worked hard to keep the car leveled under hard accelerating or braking maneuvers. The same technology was responsible for the improved cornering speed compared to the standard S-Class.

This is one of the rarest AMG vehicles ever made. Only 70 units were sold and they were not advertised in the German company catalog. The 2001 S63 AMG, a car that was built for just a month.

It was not the most powerful version of the S-Class from that era. It was not the most comfortable car in the lineup. It wasn't even the rarest AMG model (The CL63 AMG was produced in 26 units). But it was the rarest S-Class. It was available only as a long-wheelbase and with rear-wheel-drive. It was offered only to selected customers, most of them being heads of states or other officials.

The W220 S-Class was launched in 1999 and it redefined the look for the German flagship model. It went from a bulky, imposing presence, such as the W140 S-Class, to a sleek and aerodynamic sedan. From the outside, there were very few clues that could tell the difference, other than the special light-alloy wheels or the 6.3 AMG chromed badge on the front fenders and in the back of the car. The four oval exhaust pipes in the rear were noticeable as well.

Inside, the AMG was just as comfortable as any other S-Class with the long-wheelbase. For the interior ambient lighting, it had three options available, depending on the mood. For a comfortable journey, it was fitted with four massage seats.

Under the hood, there was the most powerful naturally aspirated engine installed in a sedan when it was launched: a 6.3-liter V12 unit. It was mated to a 5G-Tronic gearbox, which could handle the big torque. The adaptive suspension was standard so the car would handle better while cornering.

Back in 1999, the S-Class was trying to find its way into the sport-executive niche and the S55 AMG version was a good choice of a car to drive more than to be driven in.

The S55 AMG came just four years after the C36 AMG, which was the first proper factory-tuned car built by Mercedes-Benz and the wizards from Affalterbach, where the AMG headquarter was. It was a fire-spitting luxury car.

From the outside, the big AMG wheels featured a sportier design than the classic, elegant, look of the S-Class light-alloy wheels. The front apron was modified to enhance the sporty image and to increase the cooling capacity of the engine. In the back, a double oval exhaust was mounted on the outer sides of the car.

Inside, the S55 AMG offered the same luxurious interior, but with some additions for the front seats, which featured bolstered bucket-seats. On the center stack, the S55 AMG was fitted with a navigation system, which was not available in every country. The car was offered in a short or long wheelbase.

Under the hood, the S55 AMG was fitted with a 5.4-liter V8 engine mated to a standard 5-speed automatic gearbox, named AMG Speedshift. It allowed being driven either in automatic or in manual mode by balancing the gear-selector lever left and right.