Say goodbye to Mercedes-AMG’s 3,0-litre V6 screamer and hello to the C43 AMG’s new 2,0-litre mild-hybrid powertrain with 300 kW and 500 N.m.
The W205 Mercedes-AMG C43 AMG offered AMG thrills, albeit with a different character to the full fat C63 brute. With its 287 kW and 520 N.m 3,0-litre twin-turbocharged V6, the C43 AMG combines everyday comfort with a fruity engine note and AWD surefootedness. Its replacement has just been announced as the W206 C43 AMG, but gone is the yelping V6 of its predecessor, making way for a somewhat more subdued, albeit slightly more powerful, mild-hybrid setup.
Touted as the world’s most powerful four-cylinder production engine, the astonishing M139 2,0-litre unit with turbocharger outputs 300 kW and 500 N.m in the new C43. The turbocharger features a 1,6-inch thin electric motor on the turbocharger shaft, F1 technology which allows the turbocharger compressor to spool up before the exhaust gasses take over, thus reducing lag.
Claimed performance figures for the AWD sedan are 0-100 km/h in 4,6 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 265 km/h if the car is fitted with optional 19- or 20-inch wheels. AMG Ride Control with Adaptive Damping System and rear-axle steering comes as standard fitment on C43 models and four-piston fixed calipers up front and single-piston floating items at the rear handle things in the stopping department.
Visually, the recipe is rather similar to that of the outgoing C43, although copied across to the snazzy new W206 C-Class’ svelte body. AMG’s signature Panamericana grille sits above a restyled and slightly more aggressive lower front bumper and the rear features four round exhaust pipe exits and a boot-lip spoiler. Shiny chrome bits have been turfed in favour black bits which in the world of automotive design denotes sportiness, apparently…
The interior is typical new C-Class – which isn’t a bad thing at all – with AMG seats, a flat-bottom AMG steering wheel and AMG sport pedals and a smattering of red stitching reminding you of the fact that this C-Class is a bit faster than the others on the road. There’s no word yet on local availability or pricing from Mercedes-Benz South Africa.
