More than the sum of its enhanced parts

Though there are rumours swirling around the possibility of the Mercedes-AMG C63 being pulled out in the future, there are no signs of its popularity waning. What Merc officials have indicated is that an all-wheel drive version of this car will never be made, and that in the future it could become a hybrid. Of course, they quelled rumours further when the new face-lifted 2018 C63 was unveiled in March this year. All of that is good news, who would want to miss being the wheel of a compact sedan that’s capable of hitting 100 kmph in 3.9 seconds? But, the C63 AMG is for the ‘lightly touched in the head’ fans of performance motoring. For more sane buyers, who are looking for the thrill of a reliable fast car that also offers everyday usability, Mercedes points to the C43 AMG. With the comforting embrace of its all-wheel drive and yet a near 70 per cent rear-biased torque distribution, this AMG with its V6 powertrain is still quite a handful for the average driver. The C43 AMG has been given a fairly significant makeover as part of the changes that have been rolled out across the C-Class model range earlier this year. The face-lift may not seem like much when viewed one department at a time, but combines together to offer a fairly sumptuous update to the car.

Minor face-lift?

On the outside the only big changes that are visible are the trademark AMG radiator grille in a twin-louvre design and the more powerful looking rear apron, which now sports round twin chrome tailpipe trim elements. The front apron is also new for improving airflow and aerodynamics. But, it is not until I pilot the C43 onto the highway that the changes truly come into play. It is amazing what 23 more horses under the bonnet can do!

Driving the C43 on the unrestricted sections of the German autobahn, eyeing the speedo (only briefly) hit a top speed of 258 kmph and knowing that you are not violating any law is a special feeling. The new C43 AMG’s top speed is electronically restricted to 250 kmph, but press fleet cars from many manufacturers are exempt from such requirements. Sheer speed alone can’t be showcased as a car’s forte, but being in a compact sedan, it is amazing that I didn’t feel uneasy at those speeds in the C43. It was also not one of those straight as an arrow as far as the eye can see kind of stretches of the autobahn. I was driving in some of the windy stretches in the Mosel region of Germany. The curves and gradients of the road heightened the sense of speed. What it didn’t lack in was grip, but what I would have liked more was weight at the wheel.

Mercedes-AMG’s performance 4MATIC all-wheel drive is standard in the new C43. It features a rear-biased torque distribution with a front/rear axle split of 31:69. Allowing for model specific torque split changes, the all-wheel drive system features a compact single-stage transfer case.

More power

The C43’s force-fed, 3-litre, V6 biturbo engine has been given a 23hp boost in power and now delivers 390hp. The peak torque is 520Nm which is available from 2,500-5,000rpm. The output gets a boost from the larger exhaust gas turbochargers that are positioned outside the ‘V’ of the engine. The 2018 C43 AMG also gets the Speedshift TCT 9G transmission, which has apparently been tuned by Merc engineers to offer a more dynamic shift pattern. During a few throttle cycles the transmission seems a bit pensive before gear changes, but the double-declutching in Sport and Sport+ modes make it much more fun to drive. In manual mode, the engine stays on limit without an automatic shift up.

Vibrant hues The 12.3-inch screen livens up the cabin with multi-colour dials

In addition to the Comfort, Sport, Sport+ and Individual modes, there is the addition of a fifth, new ‘Slippery’ mode (identified by a snowflake symbol). The manual transmission mode can also be selected by simply pressing a ‘M’ button or by using the paddles. The C43’s suspension set up has been modified and tuned for better cornering stability. Adaptive adjustable electronic damping is standard and controls each wheel’s response. Changes to the drive mode settings alter the damping, as also the steering and gearbox responses.

Better cabin

The C43’s cabin also gets a mix of performance and comfort enhancements. While the new sportier AMG performance seats get side bolsters that can be adjusted by means of the built-in air cushions, the cabin also gets a discreet ambient lighting package. Matching the seat design, the door centre panels, the dashboard finished in man-made leather and the AMG steering wheel all have red top-stitching. Aluminium sports pedals with black studs, trim elements in black piano lacquer with light longitudinal-grain aluminium, the black roof liner and the red seat belts are some of the other sporty highlights. Along with some of the other C-Class models, the C43 AMG also gets the new steering wheel with its touchpad controls. More convenience and flexibility of the cabin can be had by choosing the optional new fully digital instrument cluster display. The 12.3-inch screen really livens up the dash with its multi-colour dials that can be customised to display AMG-specific styles called ‘Classic’, ‘Sport’ and ‘Supersport’. It can also be customised for displaying info like G-Force and a race timer manual stopwatch for lap times.

Bottom Line

The 2018 C43 4MATIC AMG feels like a much improved successor model. There are a few other features that it gets from the upgrades that have done across the model range. The changes may not convince C63 owners to consider this demi-god. But for the others looking to combine the practicality of a sedan or even a coupe and the performance of an AMG in a compact form, the C43 will be a perfect fit. Of course, this Merc model will soon be facing a lot of competition too, from the likes of the M3 and the new 410hp M2 Competition.

The C43 is being offered in four body styles in Europe and the US, my guess is that it will be the sedan and maybe the cabriolet that will be offered here. Prices would probably start north of ₹80 lakhs.

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