Mercedes-AMG C 43

The Crazy C 63 Gets A Younger Sibling And It’s Here To Make Us Lesser Mortals Look Good.

- Devesh Shobha

Why has Mercedes bothered with another hot variant of the C-class when we already have the C 63? With the launch of the C 43, will Mercedes discontinue the C 63 in the wake of downsizing and saving the world? What’s the point of transforming a family car into a crazy sedan and then dialling it down a couple of notches? Does the C 43 even justify the full-blown AMG badge on its boot?

These are the sort of questions that popped up when we first heard of a baby C-class AMG taking shape. So, to find some answers, we headed to the Buddh International Circuit, Noida – a setting where the C 43 could be tested properly – to decide for ourselves if it deserves a place in the AMG family. And after throwing around the 43 for over 10 hot laps, it’s quite evident why Mercedes bothered with this “semi hot” variant of the C-class.

So far, Merc only sold the S version of the C 63 in India, powered by a 504bhp, 700Nm 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 that sends all that power strictly to the rear wheels via a seven-speed gearbox. Sure, it’s a recipe for great fun, but for amateur drivers – TopGear’s unscientific study pegs that number at roughly 87 percent of Indians – things could easily get embarrassing when pushed hard.

That’s where the C 43 steps in. Mercedes has managed to make a crazy fast car into an idiot-proof tool and we aren’t complaining. Powered by a smaller 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol, the C 43 only has 362 horses and 520 Newtons to play with – that’s almost a 30 per cent drop in power compared to the 63 S. But for someone who’s stepping up from a family sedan, those figures should suffice.