THE style is unmistakeably Mercedes and the profile lithe as a pouncing leopard.

And the boys at Benz have added a fresh string to their arsenal of firepower in the stunning shape of the new AMG S 65 Cabriolet, due in the UK next summer.

This latest arrival from the Mercedes-AMG stable marks the first time the brand has offered a 6.0âlitre V12 biturbo performance car with the experience of open-top driving for four.

For the new flagship model in the S-Class family were talking an output of a whopping 630bhp of power riding on the company's AIRMATIC sports suspension.

Those who can afford the S 65 can expect to be cossetted by the AIRCAP automatic wind protection system and kept warm when the roof's down thanks to the AIRSCARF neck-level heating set-up.

The car's three-layered acoustic fabric soft top is available in four colours of black, dark blue, beige and dark red, all lined in nappa leather and Dinamica microfibre.

It can be electro-hydraulically opened and closed while on the move, up to a speed of 32mph with opening and closing taking around 17 seconds.

No other car manufacturer boasts such a wide portfolio of 12-cylinder models as Mercedes-AMG - the 65 Saloon, SL 65 Roadster, G 65 off-roader and S 65 Coupe making up the other offerings.

The S 65 cabrio can blast from 0-62 in a fleeting 4.1 seconds and on to an electronically limited top speed of 155mph while returning a combined fuel figure of 24 miles per gallon.

Mercedes-AMG chief Tobias Moers said: "The customer base for our V12 biturbo engine expects the ultimate in every respect. That is why we are offering a four-seater high-performance convertible with this legendary power unit for the first time.

"The new S 65 Cabriolet sets benchmarks for all relevant criteria: top performance, a breathtaking driving experience and exquisite appointments."