AMG has labored its magic on the C-Class sedan to remodel it right into a bonafide sports activities sedan.
In our Mercedes C-Class evaluation, we praised the brand new era’s phenomenal physique management, and now AMG has labored its magic and remodeled it right into a grin-inducing sports activities sedan referred to as the Mercedes-AMG C 43 4Matic.
This isn’t the primary time India is launched to this moniker although. First got here the four-door sedan in 2017, then the two-door coupe in 2019, and now it’s again in an all-new four-door sedan avatar. Not like the earlier iterations that have been powered by a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol engine, this new C 43 is powered by a downsized 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine.
A lowered experience top, racier physique package and quad exhaust ideas make it look the half.
Mercedes-AMG C 43 efficiency
The guts of the matter is its AMG-developed 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine codenamed M139l (l stands for longitudinal set up), manufactured at Affalterbach, in accordance with the ‘One Man One Engine’ precept. And the corporate says they’ve carried over some applied sciences developed by the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 staff to additional improve its efficiency.
A key F1-derived tech is the electric-exhaust fuel turbocharger. It includes a small electrical motor built-in into the turbocharger, which spools up the turbo even earlier than the exhaust gases construct increase, thus eliminating turbo lag. There’s additionally a 48V mild-hybrid system that feeds the belt-driven starter generator offering a momentary increase of 14hp below heavy load. What all this ends in is a really crisp energy supply and a powerful seamless and thrilling build-up of pace. It pulls relentlessly even submit 5,000rpm, and revs until the magical 7,000rpm mark.
AMG-developed engine constructed at Affalterbach in accordance with the ‘One Man One Engine’ precept.
The one draw back is that even when this four-cylinder engine is on tune, you’ll miss the visceral sound expertise of its six-cylinder rivals and even its predecessor. You would blame environmental rules for muting this engine even additional, nonetheless, to rectify this and improve the aural expertise (to some extent), Mercedes has put a mic into the exhaust system which picks up the tone and performs it by way of the audio system in actual time.
Transmission duties are dealt with by a 9-speed dual-clutch automated transmission. When you find yourself driving in a spirited method, this transmission will thrill you with its quickness and eagerness. Nevertheless, at metropolis speeds, it isn’t the smoothest and downshifts can often really feel jerky.
The mild-hybrid system additionally options automated engine stop-start tech, which turns off the engine even earlier than coming to an entire halt. Annoyingly, when you occur to show this function off, and change from Sport or Sport Plus drive mode to Consolation mode, it mechanically turns again on. One other quirk is its hypersensitive ‘automated brake help’ operate, which you’ll have to religiously flip off every time you begin your drive, because it slams on to the brakes very aggressively, even in eventualities you’d in any other case be far gentler on the brakes to cut back pace.
Rear-axle steering makes it deal with like a a lot smaller, nimbler automotive.
Mercedes-AMG C 43 experience and dealing with
The 4Matic in its identify represents a rear-biased, full-time all-wheel-drive system, which transmits 31 p.c of the torque to the entrance and 69 p.c to the rear wheels. One key spotlight of the C 43 is its rear-axle steering, which turns the rear wheels as much as 2.5 levels both within the course of the entrance wheels or in the other way, relying on the pace. And at low speeds, this all-wheel steering makes it very manoeuvrable, particularly whereas taking U-turns. However the rear-axle steering really shines if you end up attacking corners, not solely making the C 43 deal with like a smaller, nimbler automotive but additionally by masking its 1.8-tonne kerb weight very successfully. You may nonetheless really feel its weight round a race monitor, however in your favorite winding sections of highway, you’ll respect the grace and poise with which it modifications instructions, in addition to the astonishing ranges of grip on provide. Even its steering impresses with its crispness and sharpness.
The automotive rides on metal springs and adaptive dampers with three damping settings (which you’ll configure, regardless of the drive mode) – Consolation, Sport and Sport Plus. To expertise the perfect of each worlds, dial it to the Sport damping setting always; it eliminates the side-to-side rocking actions, that are noticeable in Consolation and doesn’t really feel as hardcore because the Sport Plus setting. What’s good is that whereas the suspension setup feels a lot firmer than the C-Class sedan, it doesn’t really feel overly stiff or bone-jarring, and doesn’t rattle your backbone must you by accident occur to crash right into a pothole.
4-cylinder engine punches above its weight with regards to efficiency on account of the F1 tech.
Mercedes-AMG C 43 exterior design, inside
Just like the C-Class sedan it’s based mostly on, the brand new C 43 is a good-looking sedan. In keeping with its sporty character, the C 43 will get the AMG-specific Panamericana entrance grille and a racy physique package. Particularly engaging are its 19-inch multi-spoke alloys, nonetheless, with slim 40-profile tyres, you will have to sort out potholes with utmost care. Quad exhaust ideas spruce up its rear profile.
Exhaust sounds slightly muted; a mic within the exhaust system performs sounds by way of the audio system for a greater aural expertise.
The interiors are just like the C-Class, nonetheless, the AMG iteration options an all-black cabin, pink seat belts and a pretend carbon-fibre panel. To reinforce its sportiness quotient additional, it will get body-hugging bucket seats with firmer cushioning and an AMG steering, each of that are draped in a mixture of leather-based and Alcantara.
Sporty steering draped in Alcantara and leather-based, seems to be good and feels nice to carry.
The steering additionally options fast entry shortcut buttons to alter the drive modes (on the correct) in addition to different key capabilities to alter the setting for exhaust and suspension, amongst different issues. It carries ahead the 11.9-inch LCD instrument cluster, nonetheless, it now has some AMG-specific shows, and its 12.3-inch touchscreen additionally options helpful telemetry which information a number of parameters, notably helpful to hone driver abilities round a race monitor.
Fast entry shortcut menus on the steering to alter key settings on the transfer.
Mercedes-AMG C 43 worth, verdict
The Mercedes-AMG C 43 4Matic drives brilliantly and its downsized four-cylinder 2.0-litre engine is extraordinarily potent and punches properly above its weight. What’s additionally neat is that the automotive is completely trendy and packs in some neat cutting-edge tech.
Mercedes is asking a sizeable Rs 98 lakh for the C 43. Sure, it’s an import, however so is the Audi S5, which is Rs 23 lakh extra inexpensive, whereas the regionally assembled BMW M340i is Rs 27 lakh cheaper. And its rivals get bigger 6-cylinder engines with related efficiency and sound a lot nicer. However out on the highway, the C 43 places up a significantly better combat, and as soon as behind the wheel, you’ll overlook in regards to the deficit in cylinders and presumably the excess money you’ve splurged. So when you’re fortunate sufficient to be out there for a sports activities sedan, the C 43 deserves some consideration.
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