It’s a facelift that touches on both performance and apparel
The Mercedes-AMG C 43 was in for a revamp so Stuttgart – or better said, Affalterbach – didn't need a special invitation to refresh its entry-level offering in the AMG-badged C-Class range.
Mercedes-AMG claims that "high demand and positive feedback" helped a lot with the decision to spice up the C 43. As a result, a power bump and mild visual nip-and-tuck were applied.
The 3-liter bi-turbo V6 now makes 23 hp (17 kW) more than the pre-facelift version, reaching 390 hp (287 kW). Peak torque stays at 520 Nm and can be harnessed between 2,500 and 5,000 rpm. Married to the engine is the AMG Speedshift TCT 9G nine-speed automatic transmission calibrated to allow short shift times.
Drivers can also go for the "Manual" setting and change gears using the shift paddles on the steering wheel.
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New for the Merc-AMG C 43 is the "Slippery" mode that ensures moderate power delivery when travelling on snow- or ice-covered surfaces.
With these figures on the spec sheet, the revised Merc-AMG C 43 sedan sprints from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.7 seconds (that's 4.8 seconds for the wagon) and can reach a top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph).
The C 43 (whether it's the sedan or the estate) relies on the AMG Performance 4Matic all-wheel drive setup that sends 69 percent of torque to the rear wheels with the rest being routed towards the front axle, through a single-stage transfer case.
Adaptive damping are also a standard feature as part of the AMG Ride Control steel suspension setup that uses a four-link configuration up front and an independent multilink construction at the rear.
Visually, the Mercedes-AMG C 43 gets a new radiator grille, front apron, side skirts, round tailpipes and a spoiler lip on the boot lid. The press blurb also says the C 43's wheels have been aerodynamically optimized and come in two options: 18-inch or 19-inch, both with five twin spokes.
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