NICHE plugging has been a favourite game for multiple manufacturers since the clocked ticked over to the new millennium, best represented by SUV models that are now very small, coupe-like, small-and-coupe-like and medium-coupe-like to follow the original large-coupe-like concept.

In the rush to morph SUV genres and bodystyles however, combining other great buyer loves has not been forgotten: namely premium cars wearing sports-division labels for less.

Enter the Mercedes-AMG C43 Coupe, which finally fills the vast $80,000 void between a standard Mercedes-Benz C300 turbo four-cylinder and the honking Mercedes-AMG C63 S turbo V8. The turbo V6 model will soon be joined by sedan, Estate and Cabriolet bodystyles to tempt buyers up the C-Class range with sporting promise and badge cache, but without enormous expenditure.

The company believes the $100,000 mark is a buyer sweet spot where C63 S buyers will not step down but C300 buyers will step up. In other words, it was a niche that needed filling.

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