Mercedes-AMG C43 - Is What A Car With Character Should Be Like

The world was introduced to the boisterous C43 in 2016, positioned as a younger sibling of the C63. Back then, I’d thumb through reviews, blinking in disbelief at the V6 configuration that packed a punch some V8s would be proud of. Cut to 2019 and here I am, running my fingers along the sloping spine of the 2019 Mercedes-AMG C43 Coupe, fresh from a test ride that has taught me a lot more about a car with character

- Dhiram Shah

EXTERIORS

So, what is it that gives the AMG C43 the character that I vouch for? Its looks, for one. The two-door format doesn’t miss the sloping roof and the C43 wears a gracious descent as its roof. At the rear, a sporty, integrated spoiler. The LED tail lamps fit natively into the body, making it look seamless. The four rear exhausts are split into pairs on either side, with metallic tips and diffusers slotted in between them. The Sport Exhaust System on the C43 enables you to influence the sound of your drive and can be adjusted by switching the driving modes. Mercedes has done a fine job of making the design of the C43 seem effortless with fewer lines, which by no means compromise the sportiness or leave it overcooked. The standard 18-inch wheels look great, with AMG branding in and around it. The sides proudly announce the 4MATIC configuration.

Upfront, the C43 remains consistent with C Class aesthetics. The front grille is clearly the highlight here and that sets it apart from its siblings with a horizontally-divided twin-louvre style. It is Mercedes’ signature Panamericana grille that sits behind the division with yet another stamp of AMG across its face. The adaptive Multibeam LED headlamps boast of a throw of 650 meters, which is great if you’re slightly heavy on the pedal, and even if not, they are a boon for our unpredictable road conditions.

INTERIORS

STEPPING into the cabin greeted me with a familiar Mercedes embrace, which is unfailingly welcoming and tended to my comfort. The doors open to fine leather insides and the slim and sexy AMG flat-bottomed steering wheel. The instrument cluster is neat and set rather deep into the dash. A 10.25-inch touchscreen hosts Mercedes’ COMAND infotainment system, which supports

EXTERIORS