Mercedes-Benz India introduce their 13th new car this year and the third AMG 43 model in their line-up, the C 43 4MATIC at Rs 74.35 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).
Building on the success of their AMG high-performance brand, the German major has introduced yet another BiTurbo V6 performance-oriented model, this time with a sedan body-style.
The new AMG C 43 4MATIC, until recently known as the C 450 AMG 4MATIC globally, sits between the 184-PS four-cylinder C 200 and the top-spec 510-PS V8-powered C 63 S. The C 43 packs a 367-PS V6 with a peak 520 Nm of torque. It sports the 9G-Tronic nine-speed automatic transmission driving the 4MATIC intelligent all-wheel-drive system that sends the power to all four wheels. With this engine under the bonnet, the claimed acceleration time from 0-100 km/h is 4.7 seconds with top speed limited to 250 km/h.
Inside, the C 43 gets a typical mix of Mercedes luxury and air of quality with AMG bits to add to its sport quotient. The seats are upholstered in a combination of Artico leather and Dinamica and are contoured to offer just the right kind of support for what is intended to be a mix of casual and spirited driving.
Equipment in the C 43 includes Garmin Map Pilot with 3D maps and connectivity via Bluetooth, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
For the enthusiast, of course, there is a choice of drive modes: Eco, Comfort, Sport, Sport+ and Individual, each impacting the driving feel to suit the intended application at the time. The AMG Ride Control sports suspension and the Sports Exhaust system are standard as well.
We drove the C 43 4MATIC at the Buddh International Circuit. The V6 does a good job of delivering the goods. The 4MATIC strikes a beautiful note between grip and crazy fun, allowing just the right amount of traction to stay on the line while getting a kick out of it at the same time, all the while in Sport+. The drive is split 31:69 front to rear. The engine cuts off post just past 6,000 rpm so it’s best to shift up at peak power begins to kick in just as you approach that mark. The 9G-Tronic can also dynamically skip gears when more urgent acceleration is needed.
Overall, it’s a good package and fittingly completes what is a formidable C-Class range for Mercedes-Benz in India. Look forward to a proper road-test review shortly.
