The house of AMG has teased just a new C-class, and boy it’s a hoot. Of all the noteworthy features, what stands out is that the performance-oriented 2023 Mercedes-AMG C43 packs a hybrid turbocharged inline-four that makes a hair-raising 407hp.
Design-wise, the C43 AMG isn’t a huge departure from the previous C43, although there are a few cosmetic tweaks like the addition of AMG’s Panamericana grille, and a lower front bumper. Moving to the rear, there are four round exhaust pipes houses in the black bumper. There’s also a new slip spoiler. Overall, the Mercedes-AMG C43 looks more aggressive than the standard C-Class, which is expected considering the AMG badging.
The interiors are new in parts. There’s a new flat-bottom AMG steering wheel, wrapped in Nappa leather. On the centre console sits a touchscreen 12.3-inch infotainment centre, along with an 11.9-inch digital driver’s display. Then there are the aluminium shift paddles, faux leather seats with red stitching, red seat belts and Mercedes’ latest MBUX multimedia technology.
Powering the new C43 AMG is a combination of a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine and a 48-volt mild-hybrid system. The former alone dishes out 407hp, which can be bumped to 420hp with the hybrid’s boost functionality. Of course, the C43 comes with Mercedes’ 4Matic all-wheel-drive system and a 9-speed automatic transmission.
What’s interesting here is that Mercedes claims it has taken learnings from the F1 track to design the engine’s turbocharger to reduce lag. This was done by integrating a small 1.6-inch thick electric motor directly onto the turbocharger shaft, which allows the car to drive the shaft and accelerate the wheel before the combustion engine takes over.
As a result, Mercedes claims the C43 AMG can sprint from 0-100kph in just 4.6 seconds, an impressive number considering its size. The German carmaker has electronically limited the top speed to 250kph, which goes up to 265kph if you opt for the optional 19 or 20-inch wheels instead of the standard 18-inch ones.
While the 2023 Mercedes-AMG C43 does sound interesting on paper, it remains to be seen if the car will come to India. The carmaker recently unveiled the EQS SUV, which is expected to launch in India soon.
( Image credits: Mercedes-AMG )
