Mercedes Benz 560 SEC

This was the final guise of the W126 S-Class coupes, and Mercedes decided on using the biggest engine option available as their main rival, BMW, was rumored to be bringing out a VI2 luxury car. It was the first time the 338ci (5.6-liter) V8 had been used in anything but the flagship S-class four-door sedan, but it suited the intended luxury sport nature of the coupe very well, making it a very quick car. While the coupe ran the same suspension and drive train, its wheelbase was shortened, which made it a more nimble handler, but it retained some luxury on the rear with an optional self-levelling rear. The engine was one of Mercedes' energy concept V8s which had appeared in S-Class sedans in 1979. It featured air-swirl injection for optimum fuel atomization, fuel cut-off on the over-run, and a very low idle speed, yet in Europe could still muster 300bhp (224kW).

Mercedes Benz 560 SEC Specifications