CARS.COM — Less than a month after Mercedes-Benz unveiled its refreshed-for-2019 C300 sedan, the luxury brand carted out its speedier sibling: the AMG C43, a car in the C300’s vein, with more power and mild styling updates. The C43 debuts at this week’s 2018 Geneva International Motor Show and hits U.S. dealers by year’s end.
Related: More 2018 Geneva Motor Show News
First, performance: Thanks to larger turbochargers, the C43’s turbo 3.0-liter V-6 now makes 385 horsepower, up from 362 hp. Torque remains unchanged, at 384 pounds-feet, but it peaks a little higher on the tach — now 2,500-5,000 rpm rather than the previous 2,000-4,200 rpm. Power hits the ground through a nine-speed automatic transmission and rear-biased all-wheel drive, and Mercedes estimates the same 4.6-second zero-to-60-mph time as the outgoing C43. Adaptive shock absorbers are standard.
Similar to sportier versions of the C300, the C43 gets taller bumper openings with double crossbars on the outer portions. An updated AMG styling package on the 2019 C300 has the same single-crossbar grille that Mercedes previously reserved for the C43 and C63, so the C43 bumps up to the split-louver appearance from the C63. In back, the C43 adds a larger bumper diffuser plus circular, quad tailpipes that split out from each other versus last year’s consolidated design — both nods to the C63. Mercedes says the changes give the C43 “even more distinct positioning,” but if you fancied the prior C43’s sleeper styling, it went the way of the dodo.
Speaking of the ’63, Mercedes has yet to reveal updates on the C-Class’ head honcho — much less the nameplate’s coupe and convertible body styles — but it’s a safe bet this refresh will grace other variants in the next model year or two.
Inside, the C43 gets similar updates to the C300. A 10.25-inch dashboard display replaces last year’s 7- or 8.4-inch units. Optional virtual gauges measure 12.3 inches, and they’re housed in the extant gauge portals — not on a tabletlike screen à la the E-Class and S-Class. A new steering wheel sports updated controls similar to that of other recent Mercedes redesigns, from the G-Class to the CLS-Class. Optional AMG Performance seats add heating and ventilation, from the previous heating only.
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