What's the news?
With the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Saloon and Estate vehicles already confirmed for a midlife model facelift, it's time for one of the Mercedes-AMG variants to follow suit. Thus, here's the updated C 43 'halfway-house' AMG, these alterations - as with the regular range - only applying to the Saloon and Estate versions for now, with the Coupe and Cabriolet continuing unchanged for a short time.
Exterior
Accepting all the base changes that have happened to the C-Class Saloon and Estate models as part of the wider facelift (so new lights and bumpers and so on, it's all outlined in the news story linked above), specific alterations to the C 43 are similarly reserved. Up front, it now gets the 'twin-louvre' AMG radiator grille, when it made do with a single-strake, pin-mesh effort before, while the outer intakes in the lower apron have two bold horizontal bars within them. Silver-chrome highlights further define the C 43's face.
Around the back, a much-more-noticeable feature comes in the form of the round quad exhausts, in place of the trapezoid finishers that went before, and the circular tailpipes now mean the diffuser has been adapted to suit. Aside from that, the same body-coloured boot-lip spoiler and side air curtain vents can be espied on the C 43, with an optional AMG Styling Package bolstering the muscularity of the Merc by enlarging the front splitter, the boot lip spoiler at the rear and the side skirt inserts along the sills, while also rendering flics in the rear bumper in high-gloss black.
In the wheel arches, there are new designs of aerodynamically optimised AMG light alloys. The outer aero rings and specific spoke geometry aims to improve airflow around the wheels, while still providing the necessary brake cooling - and looking nice in the process. These come in Tremolite Grey with five twin-spokes and an 18-inch diameter as standard, the rear items being half-an-inch wider than the eight-inch fronts, while a 19-inch upgrade option comes in a choice of three finishes and again features five twin-spokes.
Interior
Much of what was offered in the C 43 before continues, such as man-made, red-stitched Artico leather, Dinamica microfibre and aluminium materials blending together to create a sporty, Mercedes-AMG ambience. There's an optional 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and the familiar 'floating' infotainment screen, which between them can display a host of AMG-specific information, like G-force, a race timer, engine data (power and torque usage) and warm-up times, among more.
There are more individualisation options for the upholstery, chairs and trim, such as the AMG Performance seats, anthracite open-pore oak wood, open-pore walnut and aluminium for panel finishers, carbon-fibre AMG trims if you want them and some new colours of leather, such as Saddle Brown/Black. But the main change that features as standard comes in the form of the steering wheel - it's finished in Nappa leather, has a flattened bottom section and perforated grips, galvanised shift paddles on its rear and now has the cruise control functions on its spokes, as well as the twin Touch Control buttons as seen on the bigger E-Class.
Mechanicals
The superb 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol engine continues, driving all wheels through the Mercedes-AMG 4Matic set-up. But while torque remains pegged at 520Nm, it's delivered over a slightly wider rev band now (2,500-5,000rpm), and the engine has also had a 23hp shot in the arm, bringing the peak output to 390hp at 6,100rpm.
With all this thump being sent to the tarmac via a nine-speed AMG Speedshift TCT 9G transmission, the performance looks broadly the same as before - but when the Saloon can do 0-100km/h in 4.7 seconds and the Estate 4.8 seconds, with both limited to 250km/h, then the C 43 twins are hardly lacking for pace. AMG Dynamic Select - with Comfort, Sport, Sport+ and Individual modes - is retained, but a 'Slippery' option is added, for snowy weather; hence the snowflake symbol on the console. Engage this and the C 43 will always set off in second gear, to minimise wheel-slip.
Further standard details of the Mercedes-AMG C 43 are: the 4Matic is set up for a 31:69 front-to-rear bias in normal operation; there's AMG Ride Control with steel suspension and adaptive adjustable damping; AMG speed-sensitive electromechanical power steering; and an AMG Track Pace data logger, for the occasions you take your C 43 to a circuit. Final word on eco-stats - the Saloon uses 9.1 litres/100km (31mpg) with 209g/km of CO2 emissions, while the Estate turns in 9.4 litres/100km (30.1mpg) with 214g/km CO2.
Anything else?
"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," said Tobias Moers, chairman of Mercedes-AMG. "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."