Geneva show: Mercedes-AMG outs C43 4Matic facelift

MERCEDES-AMG has revealed its facelifted C43 4Matic sedan and Estate wagon at this week’s Geneva motor show, with upgrades to the sporty mid-sizers highlighted by a 17kW boost in power.

Set to hit Australian showrooms in the third quarter this year, the updated C43 4Matic line-up has picked up a pair of larger turbochargers which have increased the 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine’s potency.

Specifically, power output is up, to 287kW at 6100rpm, while peak torque holds steady at 520Nm but is available across a wider 2500-5000rpm band.

A nine-speed AMG Speedshift automatic transmission continues to exclusively send these outputs to the ground via Mercedes-AMG’s rear-biased all-wheel-drive system.

The former features a unique software application that delivers shorter shift times, while the latter has a front-to-rear torque split of up to 31:69.

As a result, the C43 4Matic Saloon sprints from standstill to 100km/h in 4.7 seconds, while the Estate version is 0.1s behind this pace. Both offer a top speed of 250km/h.

Despite the significant changes to the engine, the aforementioned performance figures are the same as that of the pre-facelift model.

Claimed fuel consumption on the combined cycle test is 9.1-9.3 litres per 100 kilometres for the sedan and 9.4-9.6L/100km for the Estate, while carbon dioxide emissions have been tested at 209-213 grams per gram and 214-220g/km respectively.

The number of AMG Dynamic Select driving modes has grown by one with the inclusion of Slippery, joining the carry-over Comfort, Sport, Sport+ and Individual.

Externally, changes to the C43 4Matic include a twin-louvre front grille insert, a restyled front bumper, new-look side skirts, a redesigned rear diffuser, newly shaped quad exhaust tips, tweaked headlights and tail-lights, and new alloy wheel designs.

Inside, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster is now on offer and features three AMG-specific displays – Classic, Sport and Supersport – while a 10.25-inch Comand infotainment system is also available.

A new-generation AMG steering wheel has a flat-bottom design and can be trimmed in Nappa leather with Dinamica microfibre. It also includes touch-sensitive controls for the two main displays.

The C43 4Matic sedan and Estate are currently priced from $102,611 and $105,112 before on-road costs respectively, with pricing expected to be similar when the new models lob later this year.

According to Mercedes-AMG chairman Tobias Moers, 43-series models, such as the C43 4Matic, have been key to the brand’s sales success.

“As the most successful model series for Mercedes-AMG, the C-Class family in all its facets has made a major contribution to our corporate success,” he said.

“One major component in this success story was the implementation of the 43-series models which have thrilled our customers worldwide since the market launch in 2015.

“The high demand and positive feedback have encouraged us to sharpen up not only the appearance of the facelift, but also its performance, efficiency and dynamism in true AMG style.”

Overall C-Class sales boomed last year, with 8549 examples sold to the end of 2017, representing a 25.4 per cent improvement over 6816 deliveries made in 2016.

The Mercedes was the best-selling model in the premium mid-size-car segment last year, besting the CLA (3445 units), BMW 3 Series (2584), Audi A4 (2177), Lexus IS (1524) and Jaguar XE (791).