V12 engines are usually found in high-end luxury cars or supercars. Being a luxury brand, Mercedes has featured the V12 engine in some of its top-range cars.
The Mercedes-Maybach S 650 and Mercedes-AMG S 65 have a V12 engine. A V12 engine is one of the most powerful engines ever made. That’s why it’s popular in all premium brands. However, this engine is also expensive to maintain and produces a lot of emissions.
But if you’re ready to spend to get the best of the best when it comes to performance, the V12 engine is one of the best. Both the Mercedes-Maybach S 650 and Mercedes-AMG S 65 are a true definition of luxury and opulence. Nonetheless, they are not easy on fuel economy, and maintaining them is expensive, too.
Mercedes-Maybach S 650
Appearance
This luxury sedan has a more extended length than the normal S-Class. It also boasts of a commanding Maybach grille that makes it stand out from other sedans on the road. On top of that, it consists of two-tine paintwork that gives it a majestic finish.
The Maybach S 650, which costs around $200,000, features a panorama roof that brings in natural lighting and 20-inch multispoke wheels that give it a sporty look. Buyers will also love the all-LED exterior lighting and have optional features to pick from.
Inside this executive car, you will love the handcrafted, exquisitely finished cabin with extended wood trim and all-LED interior lighting. Besides, it also has Nappa leather ceiling/door sill/console trim. The car is extremely comfortable, thanks to the impressive large seats.
The owner will also enjoy several entertainment features such as the 12.3-inch high-resolution central display, head-up display, Command system with touchpad controller, Burmester high-end 3D surround sound system, rear-seat entertainment system, HD radio receiver, FrontBass system, and much more.
Performance
Aside from the luxurious features you get, the Mercedes-Maybach S 650 performs at a high level. This is because of its powerful handcrafted 6.0-liter V12 turbocharged engine. The engine delivers up to 621 hp at 4800 rpm. On top of that, it has a 7-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel-drive system.
Driving this can is fun and smooth as it comes with high-tech features such as the ECO start/stop system. Furthermore, it has dynamic select, torque vectoring brake, and electromechanical power steering. With a fuel economy of 16 mpg combined, this car is worth having.
Safety
You can never mention Mercedes without mentioning its safety features. Even though you get the power of a V12 engine, you can relax knowing that you’re safe while driving this German luxury car. Some of the top safety features are PRE-Safe and magic vision control.
Other safety features include brake assist, adaptive braking technology, electronic stability program, advanced tire pressure monitoring system, active parking assist, and active lane-keeping assist. These features ensure that the driver and passengers are safe by alerting the driver of danger even before it happens.
Mercedes-AMG S 65
Appearance
Another Mercedes model that comes with a V12 engine is the Mercedes-AMG S 65. The V12 engine is featured in the Mercedes-AMG S 65 sedan, coupe, and cabriolet. Unlike the Mercedes-Maybach S 650, this sedan is even more expensive as it goes for around $230,000.
But when it comes to looks, the AMG S 65 comes with an exclusive AMG V12 body styling, which is lovely and sporty. The car is beautifully designed with all-LED exterior lighting. It also has all-LED interior lighting, a handcrafted cabin, panorama sunroof, and AMG Nappa leather performance steering wheel.
It’s the true definition of luxury and performance. Interested buyers will also like the heated steering wheel, advanced AMG instrumentation and controls, and 20-inch AMG forged twin 5-spoke wheels. These and many other features make the AMG S 65 one of the best AMGs ever produced.
Performance
The Mercedes-AMG S 65 sedan comes with a 6.0-liter V12 bi-turbo engine that delivers up to 621 hp at 4800 rpm. Moreover, it has an AMG speedshift plus 7-speed transmission and ECO/Start system. Like the Maybach V12, this AMG V12 also has a combined fuel economy of 16 mpg.
Safety
Being an AMG model, the Mercedes-AMG S65 V12 is faster than the Maybach S 650 V12, but they also boast similar safety features. It has the usual Mercedes features like the PRE-Safe, attention assist, active lane-keeping assist, electronic stability control program, magic vision control, and much more.
The future of the V12
Which Mercedes engine is as powerful as the V12?
The Mercedes-Benz 4-liter twin-turbo V8 engine is the closest thing to the V12 engine. As Mercedes phases out the V12 engine, it’s planning to replace it with the 4-liter twin-turbo V8 engine. This engine is almost as powerful as the V12, but it’s more eco-friendly.
Why is the V12 being discontinued?
The V12 engine is being discontinued because of pollution to the environment. As the globe works to transition away from fossil fuels, engines such as the V12 are among the biggest C02 producers, and phasing them out will help improve the pollution situation on our planet.
Does Mercedes-Benz make V12 engines?
Yes, they do. Mercedes-Benz has made some of the most powerful V12 engines on the market. The most notable Mercedes V12 engine is the M120 V12, which was also tuned and used in the first-ever Pagani Zonda. Apart from this engine, Mercedes also boasts other variations of the M275 V12 Bi-turbo engine.
Why choose a car with a V12 engine and not a V6 or V8?
This is because a V12 engine provides power pulses more often than engines with six or eight cylinders. The power pulses feature triple overlap which gets rid of the gap between power pulses and enables greater refinement and smoothness in luxury vehicles.
Is the Mercedes V12 engine expensive to maintain?
Yes, it is. Generally, Mercedes cars are expensive to maintain. But when you go for a Mercedes-Benz car with a V12 engine, it becomes even more expensive to maintain. This is because it’s not fuel-efficient like other Mercedes engines. If the V12 develops an issue, repairing the engine will also be very costly.
Bottom line
The Mercedes-Maybach S 650 and Mercedes-AMG S 65 are the only V12 Mercedes-Benz vehicles. Therefore, they are very powerful but expensive to maintain. Also, they use a lot of fuel but perform exceptionally well. Soon, Mercedes will be phasing out the V12 engine completely because of the new emission rules.
