The Geneva Motor Show->ke228 kicks is just a week away, and manufacturers aren’t wasting any time when it comes to unveiling previews of what we’ll see on the show floor. The latest model to be unveiled is the Mercedes-AMG C43 Coupe, a model that will slot between the Mercedes C300 and the Mercedes-AMG C63. Don’t get it twisted – the V-8 powered, C63 is a force to be reckoned with, but don’t start off hating AMG’s new middle child just yet.

In all reality, the C43 is everything you would want out of an AMG C-Class – as long as you don’t want a V-8. It is sporty, packs a pretty powerful V-6, and has all of that AMG->ke8 DNA that we’ve grown to know and love. On top of that, it is the first “43” model of more to come as Mercedes extends its lineup even further.

As part of this preview, Mercedes->ke187 has included a number of pictures that give us a glimpse of the interior and exterior before the car makes its official debut. So, since we don’t have to wait for Geneva to kick off, let’s take a look at Mercedes’ new model and why you’re probably going to seriously consider buying one when it hits showroom floors.

Continue reading to learn more about the 2017 Mercedes-AMG C43 Coupe.

Exterior

As you can see from the images here, the AMG C43 Coupe doesn’t offer any major changes to the exterior, but there are some subtle changes that set the model apart from the standard C300. Up front, we see that the same corner air intakes, air dam, and radiator grille carry over from the Non-AMG C-Class. The radiator grille, however, is painted in high-gloss black with chrome pins and louvers. AMG lettering is also placed on the grille.

To the sides, mirrors and the trim around the windows have been painted gloss black. Lettering that reads “BITURBO 4MATIC” has been added to the front fenders, and the car rides on AMG-styled, 13-spoke, light-alloy rims. To the rear, the AMG badge has been applied to the left side of the decklid, and a “C43” badge has been added to the right side of the decklid. The rear spoiler also takes on a gloss black finish as does the trim insert around those chrome exhaust outlets. The rear diffuser is finished in matte iridium silver.

Personally, I would have liked to see some more aggressive design on the C43, but the subtle changes are enough to set it apart. If it isn’t enough, there is the optional Night Package that adds black exhaust outlets, black diffuser, and black front apron trim. With that package 18-inch, five-spoke, AMG rims in high-gloss black are added to the vehicle, with 19-inch light alloy rims available as an option.

Interior

As you would expect the interior also resembles the C300, but the C43 comes with its own lineup of materials and subtle changes throughout. The sport seats have been upholstered in MB-Tex/DINAMICA microfiber. The same material is also wrapped around the armrests, door center panels, and the center console. Like the flat-bottom steering wheel and dash, red contrast stitching holds everything together. Additional highlights include design red seat belts and black floor mats with red outlines.

Silver trim covers the trim insert on the door trim, the trim on the center console, air vents, and dash end caps. The instrument cluster has two large gauges with a 4.5-inch multifunction color display that acts as a driver information center. It includes a race timer, and the speedo reads up to 180 mph, with a checkered-flag design as a background. As you can see, the same tablet-looking infotainment screen is perched above the center console. In our images, it depicts the selection of driving modes available with the C43.

Drivetrain

To bring the engine up to AMG standards, a modified engine control module has been installed in the C43. It has allowed AMG to increase turbo boost and rev range of the 3.0-liter V-6 biturbo engine. It now puts out 362 horsepower and 384 pound-feet of torque. Those numbers aren’t bad, considering the 240 horsepower and 273 pound-feet that comes from the C300’s 2.0-liter, four-cylinder powerplant. Needless to say, this is one fast C-Class. The engine itself can be identified by the red AMG insert on the engine cover.

All that power is sent from the V-6 through a 9G-Tronic automatic transmission to the AMG Performance 4MATIC all-wheel drive. Torque distribution of the all-wheel drive system is rear-biased, with 69 percent of all torque going to the rear wheels and just 31 percent to the front. The on-board computer system can be set to several driving modes, including “Sport,” “Sport Plus,” “Eco,” and “Comfort.” In the two sport modes, the transmission can be downshifted more than one gear at a time, and in manual mode, the transmission will hold the selected gear even when the engine is at the redline. The given modes can also adjust the way the suspension acts and the way the engine responds to the driver, offering up a different driving experience tailored to your needs as you drive.

All told, the C43 can hit the 60 mph sprint in just 4.6 seconds, but top speed is electronically limited to 155 mph. For comparison purposes, the C300 is said to hit the same benchmark in 6.5 seconds, while the Mercedes-AMG C63 should hit it in four seconds flat with a top speed in excess of 180 mph.

Drivetrain Specifications

Safety

To start off in the safety department, the C43 is equipped with internally ventilated brake discs that are 14.2 inches in the front and 12.6 inches in the rear. There is also a three-stage electronic stability system, and the front axle has newly developed steering knuckles with load-bearing joints. Elastokinematic adjustments can be made to the spring links, just as they can on the C63. Thanks to this system, as well as the negative camber on the front axle and multi-link suspension in the rear, the car has improved agility, with reduced body roll, better traction, and neutral handling.

The C43 Coupe is also equipped with speed-sensitive sport steering. This system allows more agile cornering and authentic feedback. The assistance factor of the steering system is adjusted automatically depending on what driving mode is selected, or can be personalized in “Individual” mode.

Mercedes didn’t go into depth about any other safety features equipped with this new coupe, but we expect to see it come with front side airbags, front pelvic airbags, driver knee airbag and full, side curtain airbags, just like the C63 Coupe.

Prices

Pricing of the new C43 coupe has yet to be released. Considering the C63 coupe starts out at $63,000, and the C300 is expected to start out around $40,000, I suspect we’ll see the C43 priced somewhere in the $50,000 to $55,000 range. Pricing information should be released closer to the C43’s official launch, and we will update you accordingly.

Competition

BMW M2 Coupe

BMWs hottest M car since the 1 Series M is a perfect competitor for the Mercedes-AMG C43. It is powered by a 3.0-liter, inline six-cylinder engine that produces 365 horsepower and 343 pound-feet of torque. That makes the M2 superior in the horsepower department by just three horsepower and shy in the torque department by 41 pound-feet. The M2 is said to hit the 60 mph sprint in 4.4 seconds but is also electronically limited to 155 mph. Should the C43 and the M2 lineup on the drag strip, or battle it out on the track, it will surely be an interesting battle to watch. The M2 Coupe is priced at $51,700, which is right in the range I expect the C43 to be priced when it hits showrooms. If I didn’t know better, I would have to say Mercedes designed the C43 as a fighter against the new, and well-loved BMW M2.

Read our full review on the BMW M2 Coupe here.

Audi TTS

I know you might be questioning why I would mark the TTS with its four-cylinder engine as a competitor against the C43, but I assure you, there is a method to my madness. See, that 2.0-liter, four-cylinder hid behind the metal that makes up the TTS pumps out just 292 horsepower and 290 pound-feet. That’s 70 horsepower and 96 pound-feet shy of the C43. While that may seem like a lot, the TTS will run even with the C43 on a 60 mph sprint, with both cars taking 4.6 seconds. Top speed of the TTS is also 155 mph, so despite the C43’s superior power and torque, a lineup between these two will come down to the driver, and how well the car itself handles. The TTS starts out at $51,900 at the time of this writing.

Read our full review on the Audi TTS here.

Conclusion

I think Mercedes is smart by introducing the C43. In all reality, it didn’t have a model that was all that capable of competing against BMW’s M2, and as you know, that M2 has made quite a splash in the market. Given the fact that the C43 takes on a competitive price tag, Mercedes should have a good fighter to take on BMW’s prized M car. The one thing I don’t like is how the C43 is a little too indistinguishable on the outside from the basic C-Class. Despite some minor modifications, the car is practically identical on the outside. Things like wheels, painted trim inserts, a painted spoiler, and the like, are all things that can be done easily enough after buying a standard C-Class, so the only thing that really keeps me interested in the C43 is the power plant under the hood and the enhancements to the interior. In my opinion, it would be hard to pass up an M2 in favor of the C43, but we’ll see just how well the C43 does when it finally hits showroom floors.