Mercedes Benz C43 AMG 4MATIC Track review

In a world where time is precious, speed plays a very important role. Be it a pizza delivery in 30 minutes, an ambulance reaching a patient on time or just making it to work on time on a manic Monday, it all requires speed. But with great speed comes an even greater responsibility of control and that is exactly what the Mercedes C 43 AMG displays. It has been pioneered to perform in every aspect and that sets it a class apart from every other contender.

The C 43 AMG is powered by a 3.0 litre, V6, Bi-Turbo, petrol engine which bites harder than it barks. Yes, the exhaust note is quite throaty and sounds ferocious but it does not do justice to how quick this sedan really is. The engine belts out 367 horses on the asphalt from 5500-6000rpm. The C 43 AMG gets going rather quick, thanks to the 520Nm of torque which comes in at 2000rpm and goes all the way upto 4200rpm. Its sublime performance is only complimented by the final performance figures--the sedan accelerates from 0-100kmph in a mere 4.7 seconds and can achieve a top speed of 250kmph.

Thanks to the well integrated Bi-Turbo the V6 engine does not feel linear in the least and on flooring the accelerator pedal one gets thrown back in the seat, catering to an immensely thrilling drive. The engine has been mated to a 9-Speed automatic transmission which is better known as the 9G-Tronic. The gear shifts are extremely smooth and deliver peak performance on demand. Different drive modes on offer also help the driver to squeeze the best performance from the sedan, depending on the requirement. The C 43 AMG comes with Eco, Comfort, Sport, Sport + and Individual drive modes. Each mode puts the sedan in a different state of tune enabling the driver to optimise their performance. We drove the vehicle on BIC (Buddh International Circuit), first in the Comfort mode and then shifted to the Sport + mode. While in comfort, a mild understeer could be felt however in Sport + this was completely negated and the C 43 held its own rather well on the track.

Mercedes has setup their AMG sport suspension in the sedan, which when coupled with the fat 245/40 R18 tyres proved to be incredibly efficient. The vehicle displayed immense grip even during high speed cornering maneuvers and remained planted to the tarmac no matter what the BIC threw its way. The C 43 AMG has also been setup with the AMG speed sensitive sports steering which is precise to driver inputs and inspires confidence no matter how fast you are pushing the sedan. Mercedes has also built in adequate stopping power in the C 43 AMG via perforated discs in the front and discs brakes in the rear. The brakes have a mean bite and get their job done well. The overall engineering in the C 43 is impeccable and will not leave you longing for more.

Mercedes Benz has been synonymous with luxury and finesse since its inception. Over the years it has skillfully crafted some of the finest automobiles known to man and their latest in India, the C 43 AMG 4Matic is no exception to this. The vehicle comes with great build quality and finish, which would probably be rivaled only by another Mercedes make. The design and aesthetics are also quite appealing apart from a host of handy features and functions for convenience and safety. The C 43 AMG 4Matic will set you back by Rs. 74.35 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). If a power packed ride is what floats your boat, then this is probably one of the best bets under Rs 1 crore.