The 2023 Mercedes-AMG C43: A beautiful and powerful story
August 09 2022,
The Mercedes-AMG C 43 4Matic is getting a bold new design for 2023, an all-new powertrain and interior and a massive upgrade in the chassis tech department that will definitely be putting the competition on notice.
Style-wise, the C 43 is sleeker than ever before and gets an AMG-specific radiator grille finished with chrome vertical struts. The headlight lenses are more aggressive than previous and it gets more sporty air intakes as well as a AMG front apron. There are also all-new wheel designs that range from 18-20 inches in size, and are bult using AMG-specific light alloy. Out back, we find an aggressive rear diffuser and twin oval tailpipes.
Inside, the AMG-specific sports seats get specialized upholstery design in black with red contrasting stitching. The steering wheel is also a highlight as it comes finished in Nappa leather and gets a flattened bottom section for a very race car-like look.
That’s all very exciting stuff, but just wait until you hear about all the power the C 43 makes, and how it makes it.
Power is rated at 402 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, although that already impressive horsepower figure can be boosted by 13 hp for a limited time if the correct conditions are met.
The figures tell a nice story, but it’s the way they’re made that really stands out. The AMG C 43 gets a turbocharged four-cylinder engine but here, the turbocharger is partially powered by the C 43’s 48V mild hybrid system. That means power delivery is smooth, there’s very little turbo lag as the turbines are allowed to keep spinning even when the driver lets off the throttle pedal and it does all this using less than 10L/10 km in the combined cycle.
Once at speed, meanwhile, the C 43 gets the benefit of rear-wheel steering as standard. This helps reduce the turning circle when travelling below 100 km/h for easier parking and city driving, while at speeds above 100 km/h, it helps virtually increase the wheelbase for more stability. Add adaptive suspension and numerous drive modes, and you’ve a compact sedan that can handle the bends just as well as it can traverse the continent.
