Mercedes-AMG C43 4Matic Coupe revealed for Geneva

Here is the new Mercedes-AMG C 43 4Matic Coupe. The name may sound a bit unfamiliar, but as anticipated, Mercedes-Benz is rebranding its current range of AMG Sport models to sit more closely with the full-blown Mercedes-AMG “63” models, hence the new “43” range.

“The 43 models boast the characteristic AMG genes, which are also included in our GT and 63 vehicles, and thus consistently interpret our brand essence of ‘Driving Performance’ in their segment,” said Tobias Moers, chairman of Mercedes-AMG GmbH.

Essentially, the model you see here would have otherwise been known as the C 450 AMG 4Matic Coupe, just like its sedan sibling remains to be called. But given Moers’ confirming statements, we reckon that it shouldn’t take long for the rest of the AMG Sport range to be rebranded as “43” models – particularly the existing C 450 AMG 4Matic, GLE 450 AMG 4Matic and the GLE 450 AMG 4Matic Coupe.

Back to the C 43 4Matic Coupe, and it’s expected that the C205 C-Class here gets full AMG styling, set with AMG-specific light-alloy wheels. At the front, the AMG-specific bumper is reminiscent of the C 63 itself, featuring large air intakes. A single-bar with a centralised Three-Pointed Star and a diamond radiator grille is used instead, distinguishing this model from the C 63’s twin-bar, wire mesh radiator grille arrangement.

The rear of the vehicle also features AMG-specific appointments, including an AMG rear bumper, a boot-lid spoiler, quad exhaust pipes and an aggressive diffuser insert. The new “C 43” badging can be seen on the right side of the car’s rear end, with “Biturbo – 4Matic” lettering featured on the front fenders.

As standard, the C 43 will offer staggered 18-inch AMG-specific five-spoke light-alloy wheels painted in high-gloss black, but several design options, as well as larger 19-inch rollers, are also available.

At the heart of the new AMG C 43 Coupe is the same 3.0 litre V6 twin-turbo engine featured on the C 450 AMG. The mill produces 367 hp between 5,500 to 6,000 rpm and 520 Nm of torque within 2,000 and 4,000 rpm. Its zero to 100 km/h figures show a slight improvement against the existing C 450 AMG’s 4.9 seconds, with the C 43 completing the century sprint in 4.7 seconds.

Another new item for the recently-christened AMG model is its transmission. Where the C 450 sedan offered a 7G-Tronic seven-speed torque converter automatic, the new coupe gets Mercedes-Benz’s latest 9G-Tronic nine-speed torque converter auto. The unit delivers power to all four wheels via a rear-biased 4Matic all-wheel drive system with a 31:69 torque split ratio, front to rear.

The C 43 also shares a lot of AMG-specific chassis technology with the full-blown AMG C 63. For example, just like the C 63, the four-link front axle is fitted with special steering knuckles and load-bearing joints which have been optimised in terms of rigidity. More negative camber on the front axle and on the multi-link rear axle has also been added to improve lateral dynamics.

Various other software and technology items are also common between the C 43 and C 63, such as the AMG Ride Control adaptive suspension and the AMG Dynamic Select transmission modes – each offering a range of handling and driving characteristics for drivers to use.