2023 Mercedes-AMG C43 – Does Less Always Equate to More?
2023 Mercedes-AMG C43 Review
Modern automotive math’s magic the 2023 Mercedes-AMG C43’s engine, the entry-level model in the performance wing of the Mercedes C-Class portfolio, has just two-thirds the size and two-thirds the cylinders of the engine that drove the previous C43, but it produces over 5% more power. Less may really equal more, or so the engineers at AMG’s headquarters in Affalterbach, Germany, would have us think. However, there are additional figures to take into account in the 2023 C43 calculation. We’ll address those shortly.
The W206 C-Class was introduced in 2021, and the C43 sedan is the first AMG variant of the vehicle. It’s a warm AMG performance sedan rather than a hot one, Mercedes-Benz USA claims and is intended to compete with the BMW M340i xDrive and Audi S4 rather than the full-throttle M3 sedan and RS5 Sportback variants. A more potent C63 is on the way that is intended to handle those two.
Formula
The new C43 maintains the now-repeated AMG aesthetic. The C43’s exterior is more aggressively styled than the ordinary C-Class, with components like the ominous vertical-bar AMG grille, unusual wheels (18-inches will be standard on U.S.-spec cars, with 19s and 20s optional), quad exhausts, and a spoiler on the trunk lid.
A sweep of the carbon fibre runs over the dashboard, redesigned, lighter AMG sports seats (optional in the U.S.), and plenty of MB-Tex fake leather are complemented with microfiber and contrast stitching. The digital dash and the main infotainment screen both provide a selection of AMG-specific displays because this is an AMG vehicle from the 2020s. The four horizontal spokes of the steering wheel, which come from the EQS, include touch-sensitive buttons and switches.
The chassis upgrades stick to standard AMG procedure. The C43 has the steel springs from the standard C-Class, but AMG-spec adaptive shocks are used to manage body movements. These shocks have three damping maps: Comfort, Sport, and Sport+, each of which continually adapts to the state of the road and your driving style.
Engine
What’s behind the hood, though, is the main story. Since the 190E 2.5-16 release between 1989 and 1993, the 2023 C43 is the first performance Mercedes sedan with a longitudinally mounted four-cylinder engine. The new engine is a minimally hybridized version of the 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four used in the CLA four-door coupe and U.S. AMG versions of the GLA and GLB SUVs.
The engine, which is hand-built at Affalterbach using AMG’s “one man, one engine” process and goes by the codename M139L—L standing for “longitudinal”—produces 402 horsepower at 6,750 rpm and 369 lb-ft of torque at 5,000 rpm. A 48-volt belt-driven starter-generator can supply an emergency 13-hp boost. The main technological advancement of the M139L is an electronic exhaust gas turbocharger, which regulates the speed of the shaft on which the turbine and compressor are attached using an 8-hp permanent-magnet brushless DC electric motor.
Pros And Cons of The Drive
It is true that there is no audible turbo lag at any rpm range. The 2.0-liter four-banger reacts to throttle commands quickly, but oddly the response is subdued. Thanks to its well-balanced chassis, Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires, and exceptional grip from the standard 4Matic all-wheel-drive system, which has a set 31 percent front to 69 percent rear torque distribution, the C43 will swiftly and easily devour any road. Nevertheless, it doesn’t feel like it has more than 400 hp in the engine.
In actuality, torque may be the problem more so than power: In addition to producing 15 lb-ft less torque than the 3.0-liter twin-turbo V-6 of the preceding C43, the M139L also reaches its torque peak at 5,000 rpm as opposed to the V-6’s 2,000 rpm earlier in the rev range. Despite the high-tech turbocharger, the four-cylinder engine simply lacks the low- to middle oomph of the old V-6, and this is especially evident given that the new C43 is only a few pounds heavier than the previous model at a reported 3,893 pounds.
The new C43’s 0-60 mph acceleration time, according to Mercedes-AMG, is 4.6 seconds, and it has an electronically regulated peak speed. The C43 we drove in 2017 had a 4.2 second 0-60 time and was powered by the original 362-hp V-6 rather than the more recent 385-hp engine.
This is true even though the new vehicle has an AMG Speedshift MCT multi-clutch nine-speed gearbox that, according to its manufacturer, promises to produce quicker shifts than the traditional nine-speed auto connected to the outgoing V-6.
The Mercedes-AMG C43 is a decent but not exceptional AMG performance sedan for 2023. The chassis is excellent in terms of steering, braking, agility, grip, and traction, but the engine doesn’t provide the exhilaration you’d expect from an AMG. It is competent but uninspiring, and in this instance, less is not more.
Frequently asked question
Is a C43 AMG reliable?
The C43 AMG is unquestionably the vehicle I have enjoyed myself the most, surpassing every other vehicle priced at or below it. It offers good value for the money and is dependable, athletic, and entertaining. It sits in between the mainstream C300 and the wacky C63S.
How long does a C43 AMG last?
Your C43 AMG is likely to go 200,000 miles or more if you make the effort to maintain it properly.
Is C43 dual clutch?
A 48-volt mild hybrid system is combined with a 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder turbo-petrol engine to power the AMG C43. It generates 500 Nm and 402 BHP. The engine is coupled with an all-wheel-drive system and AMG’s 9-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.
What engine is in C43?
The 3.0-liter V6 Biturbo in the Mercedes-AMG C43 produces 362 horsepower and 384 lb-ft of torque. A new 9G-TRONIC, 9-speed automatic transmission is connected to it.
Tags: 2023 Mercedes-AMG C43, 2023 Mercedes-AMG C43 Review, AMG sports, Audi S4, BMW M340i xDrive, C43 sedan, C43's exterior, CLA four-door coupe, DC electric motor, GLB SUVs, m3 sedan, Mercedes C-Class, Mercedes sedan, RS5 Sportback, W206 C-Class
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