Ever since its introduction in the early’90s, the Mercedes C-Class has grown to become one of Merc’s most popular nameplates, selling in droves in markets across the world. Chief among these luxurious teutonic sleds is the go-faster version from AMG, and now, there’s a new one headed for a debut at the 2018 New York International Auto Show. Updates this time around include new styling, new interior technology, and a few extra ponies under the hood as well, all of which is wrapped up in that classic German opulence and swagger.

Continue reading to learn more about the 2019 Mercedes-AMG C43 Coupe.

2019 Mercedes-AMG C43 Coupe Exterior

Kicking off this refresh is a selection of exterior upgrades that give the new AMG C43 some hotter styling and improved aero efficiency.

In front, you’ll notice the fascia gains a twin-louvred AMG radiator grille, with the horizontal dividing lines finished in a matte iridium silver color that looks bright and bold against the darker paint options. There’s also a new front apron with extra sinewy muscle-bound poise and even further improved aero efficiency, while the various trim elements and front splitter get a silver chrome finish.

Moving around to the corners, we find new side skirts, while the corners are stuffed with aero-optimized AMG wheels. Per usual, the rollers are constructed from a lightweight aluminum alloy, while the outer aero rings and spoke geometry were tested in the wind tunnel and refined to better slice through the atmosphere by smoothing the air flow around the fenders.

Even the rear gets a few updates with a fresh apron surrounding a quartet of rounded tailpipes. Additional high-gloss chrome is found back here as well, as are new side air outlets and a more pronounced rear diffuser. Topping it off is a subtle spoiler lip on the trunk, which comes painted in the standard vehicle body color.

While the new look isn’t terribly different from the old, the updates do help to make the AMG Merc more aggressive. It’s also functional, as the “developers aimed for the optimum combination of aerodynamics, weight and brake cooling, together with maximum performance and reduced fuel consumption,” explains Mercedes.

If you want to add additional visual flair to your ride, Mercedes has a bevy of styling packages on hand. These include the optional AMG package, which adds in even more DTM-inspired goodness, such as a more prominent front splitter, a new spoiler lip for the rear, larger side skirts, and rear bumper flics, all of which are finished in a high-gloss black. Buyers can also opt into the Carbon Fiber package, which adds the composite material to the exterior mirror housings, the rear spoiler lip, and the trunk lid. Finally, the Night package adds in some extra dark-colored trim pieces for the sideview mirror housings, shoulder line, and window weather stripping.

2019 Mercedes-AMG C43 Coupe Interior

Much like the exterior, the interior spec for the refreshed AMG C43 Coupe doesn’t differ too much from what came before. You still get a broad, horizontal layout, with clean surfaces and a somewhat simplified control scheme.

For the tech lovers out there, the AMG C43 can be had with an optional fully digital cockpit display. Measuring in at 12.3 inches in the diagonal this display offers a selection of AMG-specific readouts, including “Classic,” “Sport,” and “Supersport.” Depending on what you’ve selected, the info will be customized, emphasizing stuff like performance numbers in the latter of those three modes.

Both the digital gauge cluster and the primary infotainment screen in the dash utilize inputs from the onboard touchpad and controller, as well as the touch controls that were added to the steering wheel and the voice command system as well. Go for the digital stuff, and you’ll get some cheeky animations of the various vehicle features, as displayed in the central media display. These include systems such as the driving assistance features, the vehicle drive systems, and the communications systems. Complementing the various screens is a cool heads-up display that projects relevant info directly onto the windscreen.

New for the 2019 model year is the inclusion of a new steering wheel. This unit features a contoured rim and comes covered in Nappa leather as standard. It’s also got a flat bottom and perforated grips to up the sportiness. Behind the wheel, there are galvanized gearshift paddles if you wish to manually control the gear changes. Options for the wheel include coverings in a Nappa leather and Dinamica microfiber combination, or a Nappa leather and black piano lacquer combination. And, as previously mentioned, this wheel gets a pair of new Touch input pads at thumb’s length for control the various displays, with drivers using a swiping motion similar to a smartphone to change up the display mode and more.

And although this is a heavy luxury machine we’re talking about, it’s also an AMG model, which means it gets a variety of gear that make it well-suited to tackling the rigors of track use. No, seriously.

That includes a bevy of appropriately sporty information projected onto the various displays, such as “Warm-up, Setup, G-Force, Race Timer or Engine Data, to make the driving experience even sportier,” says the brand.

If that’s the direction you think you’ll be heading, the C43 can be had with the AMG Track Pace option as part of the Comand Online infotainment package. Essentially, this system acts like a “virtual race engineer,” recording pertinent data such as sector times and throttle/steering inputs, all in the name of refining your performance on the track, if that’s your sort of thing.

The system also records the usual standard performance metrics, such as acceleration and deceleration values (62-to-0 mph braking times, quarter mile times, etc.).The whole shebang operates using onboard systems like a gyroscope, steering angle sensor, wheel speed sensors, GPS data, and more. It’s also got a variety of famous tracks pre-stored (such as the Nurburgring), or you can record your own tracks if you’re at a more obscure local venue.

With your on-track heroics recorded, you can post the proof to social media via an app. Of course, if you just wanna get from A to B, there’s the more standard information on display, such as the current road speed and the current selected gear. Onboard technological safety systems include Active Distance Assist Distronic, otherwise known as adaptive cruise control.

However, if you are gonna take it to the max and push the limit, you’re gonna probably want to get into the optional AMG Performance seating. These upgraded sitters come with larger lateral bolsters, which is quite useful when driving your car as quickly as it’ll go. If you get the upgraded buckets with leather upholstery, and you can even adjust the side bolsters thanks to the equipped air cushions. Further options include three-stage climate control to keep your backside either nice and toasty or sweat-free.

Fancy foot moves can be made thanks to aluminum sport pedals for throttle and braking inputs, offering loads of grip thanks to their black rubber studs.

As you might imagine for a vehicle like this, the AMG C43 gets tons of high-end materials throughout. Highlights include leather, Dinamica microfiber, and aluminum. The standard upholstery is Artico leatherette and Dinamica microfiber, with a black color and red contrast stitching.

Meanwhile, the door panels and dash also come in Artico leatherette and get matching red contrast stitching. Further trim is added with a black piano lacquer and light longitudinal-grain aluminum. Up top is a black roof liner, and the seat belts are done up in a bright red color.

If that standard stuff doesn’t cut the mustard, the C43 comes with loads of optional interior upgrades, all courtesy of the Mercedes’ individualization program. These include black open-pore ash wood with light longitudinal-grain aluminum, plus longitudinal-grain aluminum for the doors and black open-pore ash wood for the center console. There’s also a high-gloss dark brown lime, anthracite open-pore oak wood, and open pore walnut.

Of course, there’s always the standard AMG fare - that is light longitudinal-grain carbon fiber and aluminum, as well as matte silver fiberglass and light longitudinal-grain aluminum.

Upholstery options include black leather, black with red top stitching, a cranberry red and black combo, a magma grey and black combo, saddle brown and black combo, and a porcelain and black combo.

Finally, the C43 gets an energizing comfort control that integrates a variety of features into a single cohesive system one. That means the air conditioning, seat settings (heating and ventilation), interior lighting and even music selection all inter-connect, with the end result being enhanced driving performance and comfort levels.

2019 Mercedes-AMG C43 Coupe Drivetrain

Take a gander under the hood of the 2019 Mercedes-AMG C43 Coupe, and you’ll discover the standard red engine cover with aluminum inserts and obligatory AMG badging, just as you would on almost any other AMG model.

The cover hides the main party piece for the model - a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6, with peak output rated at 390 horsepower, an increase of 23 ponies over the previous model. The torque output, however, remains static at 384 pound-feet between 2,500 rpm and 5,000 rpm.

Heading into this refresh, the powerplant on the C43 was upgraded with a pair of larger turbochargers. The boost pressure is rated at 1.1 bar (16 psi) at max chat. Merc also makes sure to mention that it mounted the turbos as close as possible to the manifold, thus enabling a sharper throttle response that throws in the boost as soon as you dip into the loud pedal.

Really put your foot down, and this two-door will sprint to 62 mph in just 4.7 seconds. The top speed is once again electronically limited at 155 mph.

Sending the output to the wheels is an AMG SpeedShift nine-speed automatic transmission. The gearbox now boasts shortened shift times thanks to new software and new ignition adjustments. It also features multiple downshifts and a double-declutching function when placed in the “Sport” and “Sport+” modes.

For those drivers who desire a little more control over their cogs, there’s a manual shifting mode, as indicated by a yellow “M” on the display. Take it all the way up to redline, and the system will prompt the driver to upshift, a design feature that Merc says was inspired by Formula 1. However, the gearbox won’t automatically upshift, which makes the system more useful when hunting apexes at the track.

Making it all stick is an AMG Performance 4Matic AWD system. The system offers rear-biased torque distribution, with a 31/69 front-to-back split. This helps the car handle with more of a sporting flair, with extra go placed at the rear. Details include a single-stage transfer case, which is flange-mounted to the transmission, essentially separating it and making it easier to modify the torque split, as well as reducing the overall size.

Finally, Merc says the the 2019 C43 offers fuel consumption rated at 9.8 to 9.2 liters per 100km combined (24 mpg to 26 mpg), while the combined CO2 output is 223 to 213 grams per km.

2019 Mercedes-AMG C43 Coupe Chassis And Handling

While a solid dose of power under the hood and some aggressive styling outside are all well and good, the mark of a truly sporty machine is the way it handles. To that end, the AMG C43 gets some very nice suspension upgrades to manage the hefty onboard opulence and luxury.

It all starts with a four-link front suspension and independent multilink rear, which get upgraded thanks to adaptive adjustable dampers with advanced Ride Control as standard. These units are electronically controlled, and seek a mix of sportiness when you want it and comfort when you need it.

AMG is responsible for the tuning. The system offers individually controlled damping for each wheel, and adjusts the settings based on the road surface and desired response.

Turns come courtesy of an AMG speed-sensitive steering system with a variable ratio. Standout features on this include electromechanical operation, with less assistance offered at high speeds and more assistance at low speeds.

There’s also a variety of drive modes onboard to make for a more interesting driving experience. For example, the Dynamic Select feature provides the options for “Comfort,” “Sport,” “Sport+,” and “Individual,” with each customizing the settings for the engine, transmission, suspension, and steering system.

New for the 2019 model year is a driving mode dubbed “Slippery,” which should be really useful when heading to the mountains for a weekend ski getaway. When engaged, Slippery mode is indicated by a snowflake symbol in the display.

There’s also further handling customization options offered as desired if you feel the need to tweak and tune.

2019 Mercedes-AMG C43 Coupe Prices

Exact pricing for the 2019 Mercedes-AMG C43 Coupe has not yet been announced, but it’s expected to slot in at $55,900, just like the current model.

2019 Mercedes-AMG C43 Coupe Competition

Audi S5 Coupe

As is tradition for anything Mercedes makes, Audi is getting in on the action with the S5 Coupe. Arriving to the party with a boosted 3.0-liter V-6 powerplant, the S5 sends as much as 354 horsepower towards the ground, routing it all through a standard eight-speed automatic transmission and quattro AWD system. High-end materials and an optional fully digital gauge cluster can be found in the cabin, while sharp good looks are offered for the exterior. A run to 60 mph takes around 4.7 seconds to complete.

Read our full review of the 2017 Audi S5 Coupe.

BMW M2

While Mercedes has AMG as its go-to performance gurus, the Bavarians have the M division. Lining up against the C43 is this - the M2, a two-door compact ‘Bahn burner that carries the torch lit by such greats as the 2002 Turbo and E30 M3. The latest coupe comes with a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder making upwards of 365 horsepower and 343 pound-feet of torque. Both a manual six-speed and an optional dual-clutch automatic are offered, with the 0-to-60 mph sprint completed in just 4.2 seconds. Pricing starts at $51,700. If you’re looking for a more traditional sports car experience, then this is definitely the way to go.

Read our full review on the 2016 to 2018 BMW M2.

Conclusion

With the popularity of the C-Class remaining as rock-solid as ever, the sporty AMG version should continue to pull in the sales. This latest update hits all the main bullet points for a standard Merc refresh - slightly updated styling, the latest infotainment gear, and a few extra ponies under the hood to boot.

While we’re a bit incredulous that anyone would actually take this pricey luxury machine to a track day, all the onboard gear (lap timer, etc.) would insist that the two-door can in fact do it.

All told, it’s a nice bit of kit, and should entice plenty of folks to dip their toes into the AMG lifestyle pool.

References

Mercedes-AMG C43

Read our full review on the 2019 Mercedes-AMG C43.

Mercedes C-Class

Read our full review on the 2018 Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

Read more Mercedes-Benz news.

Read more New York Auto Show news.