All of the efficiency of the C 43 sports activities sedan with the practicality of an SUV.
The Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 is again for a second era, and the general proposition stays the identical as earlier than. It’s a sister automotive to the AMG C 43 sports activities sedan, albeit with the practicality of an SUV and the sloping roof of a coupé. For a lot of Indian patrons, this can possible be the extra good selection, offering the identical heady AMG efficiency (and magnificence) with sufficient floor clearance to deal with our sometimes bombed-out roads. Nonetheless, being based mostly on the most recent C 43 means it comes with one important change below the bonnet and a a lot larger price ticket in comparison with the earlier model.
Mercedes AMG GLC 43 Coupe exterior and hues
Primarily based on the most recent GLC SUV, the brand new AMG 43 Coupé model inherits its bigger, extra muscular look, albeit with a sloping roof that slams down aggressively aft of the B pillar. Integrating such a roof on a chunky SUV is usually tough, extra so the smaller the SUV is, as a specific amount of practicality must be retained.
Mercedes designers have achieved this by stretching the roof again to the sting of the tailgate, which itself is kind of tall. This, mixed with the slim LED tail-lamps, does make the rear look cumbersome, but it surely’s all a part of that sporty, coupé-SUV persona, accentuated by a beneficiant lip spoiler and quad exhaust suggestions beneath.
Rear finish with lip spoiler and quad tailpipes is loads menacing, if on the cumbersome aspect.
Up entrance, there’ll be little question you’ve received the AMG model, due to the chrome-slatted Panamericana grille, however there are subtler touches such because the chin spoiler, aero curtains, and sportier air consumption surrounds; they might most likely stand out extra on a special paint shade. Talking of which, there are 5 commonplace colors – Polar White, Graphite Gray, Obsidian Black, Excessive-tech Silver and Spectral Blue, in addition to 4 elective colors – Patagonia Crimson Vibrant, Opalite White Vibrant, Excessive-tech Silver Magno and the one you see right here, Graphite Gray Magno.
The automotive for India will get the Night time Bundle as commonplace, which replaces a lot of the chrome with gloss black trim, and likewise the high-tech ‘Digital Gentle’ LED headlamps, which, aside from having a higher-resolution beam, get a 3-slash DRL signature and projector parts, not like the usual GLC.
Customary Night time Bundle swaps a lot of the chrome with gloss black trims.
Whereas 20-inch wheels are commonplace, our take a look at automotive is fitted with a good-looking set of elective 21-inch wheels sitting on low-profile 265/40 ZR21 tyres on the entrance and 295/35 ZR21 tyres on the again. Complementing these are brushed-metal aspect steps beneath the doorways, that are too slim to be useful however huge sufficient to depart dust in your calves whenever you get in.
Mercedes AMG GLC 43 colors, inside and options
The usual GLC’s again seat wasn’t among the many finest, and expectedly, this coupé model has made extra sacrifices nonetheless. The seat is upright and has little thigh help, cushioning is agency, and although knee room is sweet, head room is tight. You additionally must duck below the roof to enter and exit, and the home windows are tiny, however maybe all that is satisfactory in what is actually a high-riding sportscar that’s finest loved from the motive force’s seat.
Low roof, small home windows make you are feeling cooped up.
Up entrance, then, you’re greeted by the acquainted dashboard from the C-class and GLC, which is not any dangerous factor in any respect. The waterfall design is engaging, the backlit metallic AC vents are very good, and the high-resolution MBUX screens are a triumph of design, notably the AMG-specific ‘Supersport’ show, although far too many on a regular basis capabilities have been moved into the touchscreen.
What the GLC 43’s cabin does excellently, nonetheless, is immerse you in its AMG sportiness, with purple distinction stitching in every single place, carbon-fibre-like trim, purple seat belts and supportive sports activities seats. There’s a heads-up show and AMG-specific graphics for each screens, however the spotlight is the AMG steering wheel. Small in diameter, trimmed in carbon fibre and Alcantara and with context-sensitive rotary dials to vary settings on the fly, it actually makes you wish to get shifting, and quick!
Very efficient AMG remedy consists of purple stitching, Alcantara steering.
On the options entrance, it’s nicely kitted out, and highlights embrace the crisp 360-deg cameras, 64-colour ambient lighting, energetic parking help, 9 airbags, wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wi-fi charger, heated entrance seats (albeit not cooled), a 15-speaker Burmester sound system, a fingerprint scanner and a bunch of digital security aids, together with some ADAS options.
Boot capability is listed as 545 litres, however the sloping tailgate does impede. Nonetheless, it’s worthwhile noting that Mercedes has offered a space-saver spare tyre beneath the ground.
Mercedes AMG GLC 43 engine, gearbox and efficiency
The massive change below the bonnet is a case of downsizing, as the three.0-litre V6 engine has been swapped out for a 2.0-litre four-cylinder. Nonetheless, it employs a 48-volt ISG delicate hybrid system and the general result’s extra energy – 421hp, up from 390, however barely much less torque, at 500Nm from 520. That deficit is made up for by the very fact you get an extra 14hp and 150Nm of e-boost below arduous acceleration.
M139 engine’s F1-derived e-turbocharger (inset) helps cut back turbo lag.
The e-turbo reduces turbo lag significantly by utilizing an electrical motor to spool itself up early, and it’s solely whenever you all of a sudden punch down on the accelerator in one of many lesser drive modes that you simply may catch it out and really feel some lag. Efficiency feels extremely robust, even with the added weight of this SUV over its sedan counterpart, the engine belying its measurement with a ceaseless pull throughout the rev vary, going all the best way to 7,000rpm. The electrical motor even fills the torque gaps that sometimes occur throughout gearshifts, providing you with relentless acceleration nearly like an EV! It’s important to remind your self that is additionally an opulent household SUV.
The two.0-litre engine belies its measurement with extremely robust efficiency.
What you may miss, although, is the distinct AMG V6 sound of the earlier automotive. There are plenty of entertaining whirs, whooshes, pops and bangs, and a growl that’s enhanced by the sound system, but it surely’s not as loud or sonorous because the earlier engine. It’s not as free-revving both, feeling overtly turbocharged, as is usually the case with high-specific-output motors like these.
The gearbox is AMG’s now-familiar 9-speed MCT, which, as earlier than, is usually a little indecisive and clunky at low speeds however is extremely efficient in high-performance conditions. Shifts listed below are fast and aggressive in Sport Plus or Race mode, and it responds nicely to tugs on the beneficiant paddles behind the wheel, although it’s reluctant to downshift at occasions.
Mercedes AMG GLC 43 Coupe experience and dealing with
The drive mode you select performs a giant half, and there are loads to select from. A Snow mode, which dulls energy, customisable Particular person, Consolation, Sport, Sport+ and even Race modes – in an SUV! These regulate engine, gearbox, steering, suspension and noise ranges, and will be customised on the fly utilizing the aforementioned steering controls.
Optionally available 21-inch wheels look nice however harm experience.
Sport Plus and Race felt a bit too aggressive for the common Indian situations, definitely within the monsoon, with Sport placing a pleasant center floor. But it surely’s much less the efficiency and, as an alternative, the experience that you simply may wish to hold completely in a softer setting. Even in Consolation, the suspension setup is stiff, and whereas these elective 21-inch wheels look nice, you may wish to follow the usual 20s for his or her taller tyre sidewalls. Wheel journey is just not quite a bit, and it definitely doesn’t have the identical flexibility as its air-sprung greater sibling, the GLE 53.
Save for the upper seating place, it feels as agile as a C 43 sedan.
The trade-off may be value it for the dealing with this suspension affords, which is really sensational. Physique roll is minimal, to the purpose that – save for the upper driving place – it doesn’t really feel too completely different from a C 43. This consists of unimaginable agility, helped, little question, by the rear-axle steering that turns the rear wheels by 2.5 levels; it doesn’t assist the turning circle an excessive amount of at low speeds, however you’ll find it irresistible whereas hammering up a mountain highway. The steering, once more, may really feel heavy in comparison with a regular GLC, however it’s splendidly sharp, direct and satisfying within the corners.
Mercedes AMG GLC 43 Coupe value and verdict
The GLC 43 is just not fairly as pleasant a each day driver as we’d hoped, with a stiff experience, heavy steering, high-strung engine and small rear seat, however you can not deny its efficiency. All that F1 tech has labored a deal with to ship exploitable, usable efficiency, with sportscar-like dealing with to match, a lot that you simply’d query the necessity for a full-on AMG 63 variant in a car of this measurement; the 43 collection is supposed to be the mid-range AMG, in spite of everything.
Nonetheless, it’s not mid-range in value; it’s a High Finish Car (TEV), which, in Mercedes converse, means it is going to value over Rs 1 crore. That’s as a result of, not like its predecessor, the brand new GLC 43 is a full import and packs in much more tech. At that value, and with the burden the AMG badge carries, there may be the expectation to improve to a bigger engine, regardless that the efficiency is significantly larger. If not for the sound, then at the very least for the bragging rights.
An enormous benefit it enjoys is that, not like the C 43, it at the moment doesn’t have any direct rivals, apart from possibly the petrol Porsche Macan, which is fairly dated now. The brand new-gen BMW X3 M50 will possible come to India, however that’s at the very least a 12 months away. Additionally, because it’s an SUV and never a sports activities sedan, it doesn’t come below the identical sort of intense scrutiny from performance-car patrons because the C 43 does and, as an alternative, opens up efficiency driving to a wider, extra informal viewers. Particularly within the Indian context then, the AMG GLC 43 Coupé suits the position of an all-weather household sportscar extremely nicely.
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2024 Mercedes AMG GLC 43 Coupe vreview