The hottest GLC is here. Its name is Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 4Matic, which essentially makes it the fourth model already to skip the AMG Sport Line designation in favor of the the full Mercedes-AMG lettering.
After the unveiling of the Mercedes-AMG C 43 and E 43, it’s now GLC’s turn to get an AMG version. We see a GLC class with a now little surprising but still impressive-looking bodykit. New diamond grille, spoilers, splitters, mirrors and a rear diffuser, all with black accents, 19-inch 5-twin-spoke alloy wheels and four tailpipes: the AMG genes are evident. The Night package brings 21-inch wheels in a bi-colour design.
The first GLC with AMG lettering printed on his buttocks’ credentials are nothing to sneeze at either. Under the hood, we find the familiar 3.0-liter biturbo V6 good for 367 HP and 520 Nm, distributed over all four wheels via an 9G-Tronic transmission – blessed with shortened shift times and five DYNAMIC SELECT modes, Eco, Comfort, Sport, Sport Plus and Individual. The “M” button switches directly to manual mode, in which gearshifts are executed exclusively using the shift paddles on the steering wheel.
The sprint to a speed of 100 km / h is covered (by whom keeps the accelerator pedal floored) in 4.9 seconds, before the Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 4Matic rumbles to a limited top speed of 250 km / h.
An honorable mention gets the AMG Ride Control sports suspension, a further development of the AIR BODY CONTROL air suspension. It comes with adaptive dampers which can be set in three modes. The ADS PLUS Adaptive Damping system offers a choice of Comfort, Sport and Sport Plus settings. The four-link front axle was fitted with special steering knuckles and load-bearing joints, while a more negative camber on the front axle and on the multi-link rear axle promises to offer enhanced lateral dynamics.
To bring back to a full halt the 1,845-kilogram colossus, a modified braking system with bigger all-round discs with four-piston fixed calipers at the front and single-piston fixed calipers at the rear was also installed by AMG. The electro-mechanical steering has also been retuned by AMG.
To ensure more driving dynamics and higher lateral acceleration on the road plus improved traction during acceleration, the 4Matic all-wheel drive is now offering a more prominent rear bias torque distribution rated at 31 percent at the front axle to 69 percent at the rear axle.
Among the AMG touches applied to the interior, a multifunction sports steering wheel with a flattened bottom section and red contrasting topstitching, sports seats with improved lateral support and upholstery in black ARTICO man-made leather/DINAMICA microfibre plus red topstitching.
The market launch is expected to take place this June, while for the prices we will have to wait until closer to the official release date. Public debut is set to take place this month, at the New York motor show.
