Mercedes-Benz’s AMG performance division really loves sharing its prestigious racing heritage.
As such, when the company revealed its new twin-turbo 5.5-liter V8 engine, capable of 544 HP and 590 lb-ft, it decided to showcase it in a rather special Mercedes-Benz S63 (don’t ask about the number), decorated in the same livery as the famous 300 SEL 6.8.
For those not familiar, the Mercedes-Benz AMG 300 SEL 6.8 was the first racing luxury sedan revealed by the company, packing an upgraded 6.8-liter engine and, even though it weighed 3,600 pounds, managed to score second place in the 1971 24 Hours of Spa.
As such, the new S Class Thirty-Five (the number the 300 SEL wore during the race), commemorates that achievement. How so? Well, the aforementioned 5.5-liter V8 has been upgraded to 571 HP and 664 lb-ft of torque. As an added bonus, the wet clutch-equipped Speedshift MCT seven-speed gearbox was added.
The two cars went on to do a few laps of the famous Spa Francorchamps circuit in Belgium, in order to celebrate the old and the new.
Source: Mercedes-Benz
