TWELVE cylinders, twin-turbocharging, 630 bhp and 1000 NM of torque – the new S 65 AMG sets new standards as the most powerful vehicle in its segment of the market.

Mercedes reckons the AMG 6.0-litre V12 bi-turbo offers exceptional performance and outstanding dynamism – and who would argue?

The S 65 AMG is the only high-performance 12-cylinder automobile from a German premium manufacturer – and it's a car with a pedigree: the first generation of the S 65 AMG (V 220) was launched in 2003, with the second generation (V 221) being produced from 2006 until 2013.

Opening the bonnet reveals a carbon-fibre/aluminium engine cover festooned with twin AMG logos and a centrally positioned Mercedes star.

The 12-cylinder engine is assembled by hand at AMG's engine production facility according to the philosophy "one man, one engine".

Each one bears the engine technician's signature underneath the Mercedes star - so you know who to blame if it goes wrong.

Unlike its predecessor of the S 65 AMG, which featured an AMG speedshift five-speed automatic transmission, the seven-speed automatic transmission in the new S 65 guarantees a noticeably lower engine speed level. This makes a key contribution to reducing the vehicle's fuel consumption.

The efficiency of the powertrain is further significantly improved by the fuel-economy converter, reduced-friction bearings and transmission oil heat management.

Naturally it features AMG sports suspension, this time based on the amusingly-named "Magic Body Control" system first seen on the cooking S-Class.

Twin cameras scan the road ahead looking for undulations and Magic Body Control adjusts the suspension in advance to suit the situation.

The "Comfort" and "Sport" modes are available for a driver-defined suspension set-up.

The S 65 is equipped as standard with ESP Dynamic Cornering Assist which uses the brakes at the inside rear wheel results to avoid slippage and under-steer.

A large, upright V12 radiator grille, with its six twin louvres in high-gloss chrome, underlines the car's special status.

High-gloss chrome inserts are also used on the inside sill panels and the trim of the high-gloss black rear diffuser insert. Customers who attach greater value to an understated look, and don't want a 'loadsamoney' reputation, have the option of ordering the grille in high-gloss black.

Inside the AMG sports seats boast electric adjustment, memory function, seat heating and climate control as standard .

As an additional bonus, newly-contoured seat cushions and backrests improve lateral support when cornering at speed. High-quality AMG badges on all four seat backrests are part of the standard specification, while embossed AMG emblems can be found on the front and – in the case of individual rear seats – also on the rear centre console. Further AMG emblems are included on the trim of the seat backs.

The two-spoke AMG sports steering wheel is covered with nappa leather, with perforated leather in the grip area. Aluminium shift paddles allow manual gear selection.

Two new innovations make their debut in the S 65 AMG: the head-up display and the touchpad. The head-up display projects important information such as vehicle speed, speed limits, navigation information, traffic signs and information from DISTRONIC PLUS onto the windscreen. The virtual colour display of size 21 x 7 centimetres appears to float on the bonnet at a distance of about two metres from the driver. This means that the head-up display is perfectly positioned in the driver's field of view. He or she is able to take in relevant information without having to look away from what is happening on the road ahead. In addition, the display shows the digital speed, engine speed and currently selected gear. In manual transmission mode, a coloured upshift bar and the possible gears for a manual gear change are projected onto the windscreen.

The brightness of the high-contrast display is automatically adjusted to suit the ambient brightness. The driver can also adjust the brightness to his or her preference. The position of the head-up display on the windscreen is height-adjustable and can be saved using the memory function.

Like the previous model, the new S 65 AMG is available exclusively with a long wheelbase. The AMG V12 saloon will celebrate itsdouble world premiere simultaneously at the Los Angeles International Auto Show and at the Tokyo Motor Show (both: 20 November to 1 December 2013).

UK pricing and specification are still to be confirmed.