The new Mercedes-AMG GLC43 Coupe puts the "sport" back into sport-utility vehicle.
The funny thing about utility vehicles is that most don’t have much sport in them; they’re all too often little more than stylish substitutes for a minivan.
Not so the new Mercedes-AMG GLC43 Coupe. The latest in the German maker’s fast-expanding line-up is also the newest to adopt its 362-horsepower twin-turbo V-6. That’s the same 3.0-liter engine you’ll find in models like the SLC43 Roadster and C43 sedan.
“The new GLC43 Coupe is characterized by a high level of agility and sporty driving dynamics,” boasts Tobias Moers, chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-AMG GmbH. “With its expressive design and high everyday practicality, the Coupe is able to appeal to new target audiences.”
Paired with a nine-speed automatic, as well as the 4Matic all-wheel-drive system now becoming all but standard on AMG-badged vehicles, the GLC43 is said to launch from 0 to 100 kmh – about 62 mph – in just 4.9 seconds, with its top speed electronically limited to 155 mph.
The soft-roader is part of a new class of models that might be described as AMG light. Or, if you prefer, think of it as one in a wave of new models meant to democratize performance for Mercedes.
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The new GLC43 Coupe is said to sprint from 0 to 62 mph in 4.9 seconds.
You’ll spot the difference from the more mainstream SLC line thanks to the chrome-tipped diamond-black radiator grille. There are unique AMG air intakes by the front bumper and a silver chrome front splitter for optimal cooling. From the back, there’s an AMG-specific bumper, unique taillights and a new spoiler lip that picks up on the design of the S-Class Coupe.
The GLC43 also gets 20-inch AMG multi-spoke alloy wheels, with 255/45 tires up front and 285/40 in the rear.
While you’re not likely to take the Mercedes-AMG GLC43 Coupe out on the Rubicon Trail, it still boasts some genuine off-road capabilities, including the ability to ford nearly a foot of water and tow almost 6,000 pounds.
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Competition? Think Jaguar F-Pace S and BMW X4, as well as the Porsche Macan GTS – though, surprisingly, at 3,924 pounds, the AMG coupe weighs in about 350 pounds lighter than that German rival.
For on-road performance, the SLC43 Coupe gets the AMG sport multi-chamber air suspension package. Body rigidity is a key to the design. The continuously variable damping system is one of several vehicle functions that are controlled by the driver-selectable AMG Dynamic Select system. You get your choice of Eco, Comfort, Sport and Sport+ modes.
That also includes the speed-sensitive steering. And while torque is normally biased to the rear – which gets 69% of the engine’s 384 pound-feet – clutch and braking controls can help maneuver power to where it’s needed.
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We plan to have more on the new Mercedes-AMG GLC43 Coupe later this month from Paris.