Mercedes-AMG C43 4MATIC Coupé & Cabriolet get 367hp 3.0L twin-turbo V6



Remember the W205 C 450 AMG 4MATIC that was announced in early 2015? For the Coupe and Convertible body styles they become full-fledged AMG models bearing a moniker revived from the W202 C-Class, the C 43. Similar to the C 450 AMG, the Mercedes-AMG C 43 Coupe and Cabriolet twin is catered to those who find the C 63 a bit too spicy for their taste buds.

Let’s get the numbers out first, 367 hp and 520 Nm come courtesy of a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6, and all that gets deployed to the rear-biased 4MATIC all-wheel drive system (31:69 split front to back) via a 9G-TRONIC nine-speed automatic gearbox. Zero to 100 km/h is clocked in at 4.7 seconds, and goes all the way up to the electronically-limited top speed of 250 km/h.2016-Mercedes-AMG-C43-Coupe-006

Like on the SLC 43, the nine speed box shifts quicker with double-declutching and allows for a multiple downshift at one go, and in Manual mode is said to be true to its name, where it won’t shift up a gear even when you reach the rev limit.

Standard-fit 18-inch wheels wear 225/45 R18 tyres at the front and 245/40 R18 tyres at the back, and they are suspended by the AMG Ride Control sports suspension with three different damping settings. Five driving modes are available to choose from the AMG Dynamic Select: Eco, Comfort, Sport, Sport Plus, and Individual, where throttle response, transmission mapping, suspension setup, and steering will be adjusted accordingly.2016-Mercedes-AMG-C43-Coupe-009

Cosmetic updates are very minimal over the standard C-Class Coupe. It misses out on the trademark AMG twin louvre grille slats like on the C 63, and even the bumpers are the same as the ones on the AMG line coupe. Although there are some subtle badges on the side fenders and on the boot lid to indicate that it’s the AMG variant.

Black ARTICO man-made leather and DINAMICA microfibre upholstery with red stitching and red seat belts set the sporty mood on the inside, and the driver gets a special instrument cluster with chequered background pattern and a Racetimer.2016-Mercedes-AMG-C43-Coupe-010

So, is the C 43 enough to satisfy your AMG appetite? Or do you still require a V8 to sit in the engine bay?


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Mercedes-AMG C 43 4MATIC Coupe

Mercedes-AMG C43 4MATIC Cabriolet