Mercedes has revised its S-Class AMG models — noting that the AMG has "won the hearts of over 8000 customers around the world" — and has revealed two new models for 2009.

Considering that South Africa is one of the top five AMG markets in the world (that's straight from Mercedes' mouth) then it’s not too surprising that the new S63 and S65 high-performance saloons are due to make their local debut in August.

The AMG models sport a new arrow-shaped grille, redesigned mirrors and model-specific LED daytime driving lights in the front and rear. The sills flow smoothly from the front skirt through to the rear, where they frame the twin exhaust, which now have a body-colour insert between them.

19-inch alloys shod with 255/40 tyres (front) and 275/40 (rear) for the S63, while the S65 alloys go one-inch bigger and are fitted with 255/35 and 275/35 tyres.

All that rubber is the conduit for the S63's 386kW of power and 630Nm of torque generated by its 6.3-litre, V8 engine.

The S65 has a six-litre, biturbo V12 engine that pumps out 450kW and a huge 1000Nm of torque. Mercedes says this will properl it from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.4 seconds.

Standard equipment for the first time on these models is an active suspension that uses the yaw-rate and lateral acceleration sensors of the car's stability programme to make split-second adjustments to the wheel loading through the adjustable shock-absorbers and keep the vehicle steady in crosswinds.

Added to this is a cornering system that uses the brakes to make rapid adjustents to the speed of each wheel so that the car corners precisely and under control at all times.

Gear selection on the S63’s 7G-Tronic and the S65's Speedshift transmission is selected from shift paddles on a new sports steering wheel.

All that power is not without attention to safety detail. Both models are pakced with a number of active and passive safety features that use camera and radar-based systems.

These include drowsiness detection system, "lane keeping assist" and a night-vision infrared camera that also features a pedestrian detection system.

All this luxury wouldn't be complete without an infotainment system that displays different images for driver and front passenger (to prevent you straying off the road because your eyes are not on it, we would guess).

The S63 is available in a standard wheelbase version but the S65 will be available only as a long wheelbase version.

S63 AMG (standard wheelbase) - R1 590 000
S65 AMG (long wheelbase) - R2 100 000

Prices include a two-year, unlimited distance warranty and a six-year or 120 000km maintenance plan.