With the Mercedes-AMG GLE63 starting out at $99,950, and the Mercedes-AMG GLA45 starting out at $49,580, Mercedes has had a huge gap in its AMG->ke8 lineup. It’s asking a bit much to expect your customers to pay an extra $50,000 if they want an AMG-branded SUV->ke145 that is larger than the GLA.->ke4658 Well, with the first quarter of 2016 coming to an end, Mercedes has decided to expand its lineup even further. And just today, it announced the Mercedes-AMG GLC43. Finally, a model to bridge that $50,000 gap.

Tobias Moers, the CEO of Mercedes-AMG,->ke187 said, “With the new AMG GLC43 we are offering an AMG model in the mid-size SUV segment for the first time. The new SUV from Affalterbach marks the pinnacle of the GLC->ke4968 product range and in the AMG portfolio, it closes the gap between the GLA->ke4658 and GLE.->ke4971”

As exciting as that news sounds, there is more to it than meets the eye. See here in the U.S., the GLC SUV has only been available with a 2.0-liter that produced a fair but unimpressive 241 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. With the addition of the GLC43, the GLC lineup finally receives a V-6 for the first time as well. Now that is certainly worth talking about, right? We think so, and that is what we’re here to do.

The new GLC43 will make its world debut later this month at the New York International Auto Show,->ke226 with sales set to begin by the end of the year. So, until we can see it in the metal over in New York, let’s take a look at the official pre-release photos and information provided by Mercedes-AMG.

Continue reading to learn more about the 2017 Mercedes-AMG GLC43 4MATIC.

Exterior

As is the case with most AMG models, there are only subtle differences on the outside to set the GLC43 apart from the standard GLC SUV. Up front, you’ll notice the same hood and headlights. The front grille has a gloss black background with chrome pins, and instead of having two louvers, the GLC43 has just one in the middle that is finished in chrome with black inserts. This gives the Mercedes emblem a floating appearance. Down below the air dam is significantly larger with fine honeycomb mesh. To the sides, the air vents are the same shape as on the standard GLC, but there are now two louvers in each one that are finished in gloss black with chrome inserts. Under the vents and air dam sits a chrome-finished front splitter that runs the entire width of the front fascia.

To the sides, the GLC43 now has a chrome insert that runs the length of the side skirts. The mirrors are painting in gloss black, like the rest of the body, and there are now side markers on the mirror housings. The GLC43 rides on 20-inch, AMG Multispoke wheels that are painted in high-gloss black. In the front, the wheels are eight inches wide and are wrapped in 255/45-series tires, and in the back, the wheels are 9.5 inches wide and wrapped in 285/40 series tires. Last, but not least, there is a silver-colored “BITURBO 4MATIC” badge on each front fender.

Around back, the only significant change is the design of the exhaust outlets and rear diffuser. The diffuser itself is painted in gloss black and features a chrome stripe that runs the entire width. The exhaust outlets now have a chrome insert around them that has a vertical louver in the middle – giving the appearance of dual exhaust outlets on each corner. The subtle little differences all the way around make the GLC43 stand out from the rest of the GLC class, but I still wish Mercedes would do a little more to the body. A more aggressive hood and slightly more aggressive fascias aren't too much to ask for, right?

Interior

On the inside, there are even more subtle changes. The standard, circular steering wheel has been replaced by a flat-bottom sport steering wheel that features controls for the 5.5-inch driver information display in the instrument cluster. The AMG badge and a chrome insert have been applied to the bottom spoke of the steering wheel, and the top of the steering wheel is held together with red contrast stitching. The dials on the instrument cluster feature unique numbering, with a checkered flag background and red needles.

As far as seating goes, the seats up improved lateral support over the base GLC, allowing the driver and passenger to hold their position during more intense maneuvers. The seats, door trim, dash leather, and center console leather are also held together by red contrast stitching. Silver inserts are used on the door trims and the face of the dash where there is normally wood trim on the standard GLC. The center console has a clear-finished carbon fiber insert that adds to the sporty and stylish look of the interior. The interior can also be optioned with performance seats and carbon fiber trim throughout.

Drivetrain

The drivetrain is undoubtedly the heart of what makes the Mercedes-AMG GLC43 so special. For the first time, a V-6 is brought into the GLC lineup. Naturally, AMG chose to go with the 3.0-liter biturbo V-6 that produces 362 horsepower and 384 pound-feet of torque. The twin turbos are mounted close to the engine and run at 15 psi. Power is routed to all four wheels via a 9G-Tronic nine-speed transmission that has a multiple downshift feature, allowing the driver to drop more than one gear at a time. The 4MATIC AWD system distributes 69 percent of the engine's torque to the rear wheels and 31 percent to the front.

Driving dynamics such as throttle response, transmission shift points, suspension characteristics, and idle speed can all be adjusted via AMG Dynamic Select. This system offers several modes, including Eco, Comfort, Sport, Sport Plus, and Individual. In Sport and Sport Plus mode, the transmission shifts at a higher engine speed, while Eco mode has a start/stop function for additional fuel savings. Furthermore in Eco mode, the engine and transmission are separated by a clutch when the accelerator is released, allowing the engine to return to idle speed while the vehicle coasts down the road.

According to Mercedes, The AMG GLC43 can do the 60 mph sprint in just 4.8 seconds with top speed electronically limited to 155 mph. When you think about it, that is pretty darn good for a mid-sized SUV.

Drivetrain Specifications

Safety & Suspension

Since the GLC comes standard with a 2.0-liter that produces far less than 300 horsepower, some work went into making sure the GLC43 is safe with all that power at its disposal. Up front, the four-link front axle has specially designed steering knuckles and load bearing joints. The front axle and the multi-link rear axle run a negative camber and have elastokinematics that make the SUV more rigid and agile. The sport suspension system is based on Air Body Control, and there is an adaptive damping system that offers three manual adjustments: Comfort, Sport, and Sport Plus.

Another feature on the GLC43 is the speed-sensitive sports steering with a variable ratio. It offers precise and authentic feedback with the steering gear changing dependent on whether the GLC43 is in Sport of Comfort mode. The variable ratio is adjusted automatically when a selection is made with the AMG Dynamic Select system. The interior-ventilated compound brake discs measure 14.2-inchs around and 1.4-inches thick in the front, and 12.6-inches around and 0.9-inches thick in the rear. Four-piston brake calipers press the brake pads against the rotors.

Outside of these features, expect the GLC43 to have all of the other safety features incorporated into the standard GLC SUV.

Prices

Mercedes has yet to release pricing, but with at least six months left on the calendar before the model goes on sale, that isn’t surprising. There is about $15,000 difference between the GLA SUV and the GLA45, and a $35,000 difference between the GLE SUV and the AMG GLE63, so expect a considerable pricing increase from the Standard GLC and the GLC43. Considering the GLC300 4MATIC starts out at $40,905, expect to see the GLC43 command somewhere in the area of $63,000 to $70,000. That is just a rough estimate considering the price hikes between the other non-AMG and AMG models in the lineup. Stay tuned for pricing updates as we get closer to the official on-sale date of the GLC43.

Competition

Audi SQ5

With the GLC class competing against the Audi Q5, it is only fitting that we pit the GLC43 against the Audi SQ5. At the time of this writing, the SQ5 is available in two trims – Premium Plus and Prestige – and features a 3.0-liter V-6. The SQ5 features a sporty exterior and luxurious interior, a panoramic sunroof, keyless start, and Audi drive select. In Prestige form, the SQ5 comes with MMI navigation, Audi Connect, a 14-speaker, 505-Watt, Bang & Olufsen Sound System, and Bluetooth streaming audio.

Here is where the SQ5 really gets interesting, though. That 3.0-liter V-6 produces 354 horsepower and 346 pound-feet of torque. That’s only eight horsepower and 38 pound-feet less than the GLC43. According to Audi, it can hit the 60 mph sprint in 5.1 seconds on the way to a top speed of 155 mph. While that is 0.3-seconds slower in the sprint to 60 mph than the GLC43, the SQ5 will also prove to be significantly cheaper. The Premium Plus trim starts out at $53,300, and the Prestige starts out at $60,600. That could be $10,000 cheaper than the GLC43 when it goes on sale.

Read our full review on the Audi SQ5 here.

BMW X3 M

Okay, so when you saw and X3 M listed as a competitor, you probably started asking yourself “when did that happen?” Well, it hasn’t yet, but we think it will since Audi now has the SQ5 and Mercedes is about to debut the GLC43. With these two already on the market, BMW really doesn’t have much of a choice but to put out a high-performance variant of the X3 – otherwise, it will be the only one of the three that doesn’t have a mid-sized performance SUV.

Sure, I could have gone with the X5 here, but the X5 would blow the GLC43 away, and that just isn’t fair. The chances are that if BMW does surprise us with an X3 M, it will be powered by the same 3.0-liter inline-six that powers the BMW M3 and M4. In those cars, it produces 425 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque, which would put the X3 M well ahead of the GLC43, and the SQ5 for that matter. With this engine, the X3 M would be able to hit the 60 mph sprint somewhere in the 4.6- to 5.0-second range, but like the others, top speed will be limited to 155 mph. BMW has been pretty quiet about a prospective X3 M, but we expect to see a sticker price in excess of $60,000 if it becomes a reality.

Read our full review on the BMW X3 M here.

Conclusion

If you’ve made it this far, congratulations – you’ve read more than 1,800 words about a car that isn’t even on sale yet. Be that as it may, it was worth it to me to write about, so I’m sure it is well worth the read. It’s about time a V-6 variant of the GLC comes to life, and it’s only fitting that it be an AMG model. I, for one, think that AMG should do a little more to the exterior to make Mercedes-AMG models look as aggressive as they really are, but all told, the GLC43 looks pretty darn good as it is.

The chrome pins in the grille, and the little hints of chrome trim here and there is just what the doctor ordered for the GLC. In all honesty, this is what the standard GLC should have looked like from the start. Of course, if that was the case, who knows what Mercedes would do to make the GLC43. Either way, I like what I’m seeing here, and I look forward to seeing the model debut in New York. I’m curious to see what kind of price point Mercedes puts on this baby, and just how well it will perform in the crowded SUV market.