Unsurprisingly, the S-Class Cabriolet will share the bulk of its sheet metal with the S-Class Coupe. Up front, it will feature elongated headlights with integrated LED daytime-running lights, a wide hexagonal grille and a sculpted hood, while the rear end will get rectangular LED tail lamps connected by a bar of chrome trim.
The two cars will look essentially alike from the rocker panels to the belt line, but the Cabriolet will gain a cloth roof that will open and close at the push of a button. Buyers will be invited to choose from several top colors including black, beige and red.
Mechanically, the topless S will be identical to the S-Class Coupe, meaning the entry-level S550 will be powered by a twin-turbocharged 4.7-liter V8 engine that produces 449 horsepower and 516 foot-pounds of torque. The eight-cylinder will send power to all four wheels via a seven-speed automatic transmission and Mercedes’ time-tested 4Matic all-wheel drive system.
Moving up, the AMG-tuned S63 will pack a hand-built 5.5-liter V8 that will use two large turbochargers to generate 577 horsepower between 5,500 rpm and 664 foot-pounds of torque from 2,250 to 3,750 rpm. Finally, the range-topping S65 AMG will be fitted with a twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter V12 tuned to make 621 ponies and a prodigious 738 foot-pounds of twist. Like the S65 Coupe, the Cabriolet will be rear-wheel drive only.
Stay tuned, as the Mercedes-Benz S-Class Cabriolet is scheduled to make its public debut this coming September at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The ragtop will go on sale across the nation in time for the 2017 model year, meaning the first examples will land in showrooms in approximately a year.
