The Mercedes-AMG C 43 is all set for a comeback. Complete with a host of upgrades spanning the exterior, interior and powertrain, the C 43 is a nice little surprise for the festive season.
Mercedes’ in-house tuning specialist AMG has always been synonymous with high-performance vehicles, and the 2023 Mercedes-AMG C 43 is no exception. This latest iteration of the C 43 is all set to make its return to our shores complete with a host of exterior and interior upgrades, a potent hybrid powertrain and enhanced driving dynamics. The 2023 C 43 promises to offer a thrilling driving experience that blends power and sophistication.
The 2023 Mercedes-AMG C 43 showcases a new era of design aesthetics. To differentiate it from the standard C-Class sedan, the C 43 boasts several striking exterior features. The most prominent among them is the Panamericana grille adorned with vertical slats. The front end has undergone a significant transformation. It features adaptive LED headlights complete with LED DRLs. The larger air intakes on the front bumper, accompanied by black accents, gloss-black wing mirrors, beefier side sills and 18-inch alloy wheels add to the athletic and aggressive appearance that AMG stands for.
The rear of the C 43 follows suit with an equally striking design. The quad tailpipes, a new bumper and diffuser all work together to improve aerodynamics as does the sleek-looking trunk-mounted spoiler.
Over on the inside, things remain largely similar to the standard C-Class sedan save for some AMG-specific touches, like the digital graphics for the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and the 11.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system that provide visuals tailored to create an immersive and informative experience for the driver.
However, the most noticeable upgrade for the C 43 is the leather-wrapped, flat-bottomed steering wheel and sports seats. Together, these provide the driver with a level of comfort that does not take away from the sporty styling. Other interior upgrades include sport pedals and red seat belts that are more aesthetic in nature.
The most significant change in the 2023 Mercedes-AMG C 43 is the introduction of a hybrid powertrain. This new engine is a 2-litre turbocharged petrol. Codenamed the M139, it leverages a 48V mild-hybrid system it is paired with to produce a 402 hp of maximum power and 500 Nm of peak torque. For reference, the old 3-litre V6 engine was capable of producing 362 hp of maximum power and 520 Nm of peak torque. To kick things up a notch, there’s an additional 13 hp available through a boost function. This power is then transferred via a nine-speed automatic gearbox with ‘Race Start’ functionality and Mercedes’ 4Matic system to all four wheels. Mercedes claims a 0-100 km/h sprint time of just 4.6 seconds and a top speed of 256 km/h.
Now, to fully harness the enhanced power of the hybrid powertrain, Mercedes-AMG has made substantial changes to the chassis and driving dynamics of the 2023 C 43. A revised front axle enhances the vehicle’s agility and precision, allowing for more precise steering and control, especially during spirited driving. The C 43 also gets AMG Ride Control suspension with double wishbones at the front and adaptive dampers and multi-links at the rear. Braking is handled by a set of new, larger steel discs at the front (measuring 370mm) bitten down on by four-piston callipers, and 320mm steel discs at the rear with single-piston floating callipers.
The quad-tailpipe setup that we spoke of earlier is part of an entirely modified exhaust system to give the C 43 its characteristic sound despite being downsized from a 6-cylinder to a 4-cylinder engine. Finally, the four different drive modes, Slippery, Comfort, Sport and Sport+, alter the output of electronic driving aids of the car to best suit the road conditions. There is an additional Individual drive mode which allows the driver to tailor these parameters to best suit their driving style.
The Mercedes C 43 is primed to be launched in India on November 2. As far as how much the sedan will cost, expect a Rs 85-lakh price tag to begin with. When launched, the C 43 will go up against the likes of the Audi S5 Sportback as well as the BMW M340i. Alongside the C 43, Mercedes is also set to launch the facelifted GLE that was unveiled at the beginning of this year. So, we get not one but two festive surprises from the German brand.
