Coupe Whoop

385bhp may not sound a whole lot for a car that proudly wears the AMG badge, but it’s the ease with which the power can be extracted that makes it fun. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that the Mercedes-AMG C43 Coupe looks absolutely stunning!

- Ravi Ved

AMG! When you see this badge next to a Mercedes-Benz insignia, you know that the car puts performance above all else. But with the ‘43’ suffix comes a different promise – a promise to deliver that performance in a more civilised and more accessible manner. Does the new Mercedes-AMG C43 Coupe stay true to this promise? We spent some time behind the wheel to find out.

Mercedes had the previous C43 on sale in India too, but it was only available in sedan form. This is the first time that the three-pointed star has brought a ‘C’ in coupe form. Of course, it does trade practicality for a more desirable design – but it’s a trade-off that most would happily make.

We just love the way the swooping roofline blends into the boot – it’s absolutely stunning! The sharp shoulder line that continues on to the wide rear haunches is another one of our favourite design details. And then there are the obvious AMG bits – the edgy front bumper, the side skirts, the rear spoiler and the quad exhaust pipes, all of which make it different from both the regular C and the full-blown C63.

Inside edge

The interior of the C43 is all about technology and sportiness. It comes fitted with a large display for the infotainment system, which is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Additionally, it also displays the drive modes and other car settings. Unlike most of the newer Mercs though, it misses out on a digital instrument cluster. Driving the C43 at night is a tremendously stress-free affair – full credit goes to the multi-beam LED headlamps that can project up to 640 metres.