Mercedes-Benz has added some more letters to its
model range alphabet soup
with an AMG version of the GLC Coupe. You know, the more socially acceptable alternative to a
BMW X4
. It hasn't gone all hyperdrive V8 - yet - but has upped matters considerably by giving the new AMG 43 an 'accessible performance' makeover: 367hp 3.0-litre V6 biturbo, AMG air suspension and a (very appealing) set of exterior and interior enhancements.
You may not yet know you want a Mercedes-GLC 43 4MATIC Coupe (you probably won't remember the full name of it even if you do), but when standing in the showroom deliberating between this and a C43 saloon, which is more likely to get the vote? Go on, be honest ... and that's why it's worth looking at in detail here.
Technically, this is to the GLC premium compact SUV what the BMW X4 is to the X3, but making such a comparison is a bit unfair on the GLC Coupe, which is actually rather stylish and appealing (and Paris-bound for the motor show later this month). Enhanced all the more in this new AMG guise, it's purposeful yet subtle - and rather more bespoke than a series AMG Line bodykit. There's a huge amount of flashy chrome and silver at the front, but (to these eyes at least) it all works, and the high-gloss, black-painted, high-sheen (it says here) 19-inch five-spoke alloys are rather impressive. They're mixed dimensions too, with 235/55s on the front and 255/50s on the rear. Genuine performance car credentials swell accordingly.
There's black with red detailing and lots of aluminium trim inside; the seats are trimmed with Artico man-made leather and Dinamica microfibre, and AMG designers have nodded approvingly at the MG Metro and fitted red seatbelts in its honour (probably). The dials are pretty smart and, unlike Porsche, Mercedes-AMG includes its lap timer for free.
Joy of joys, Affalterbach has crafted bespoke sports suspension based upon Merc's Air Body Control system. Most suspension components (and elastokinematics) have been made more rigid, plus there are bespoke steering knuckles and load-bearing joints for the four-link front axle. There's more negative camber front and rear, and AMG's created a range of modes and defined what to expect from each: neutral to slight understeer in comfort, more dynamism and less roll in sport, and a broader scope of options in sport plus - which introduces variable spring rates front to rear. It even raises to go off-road, wade through 300mm rivers and tow speedboats up to nearly 2.5 tonnes.
The AMG Performance V6 and 9G-Tronic automatic combine to deliver 0-62mph in 4.9 seconds and a governed 155mph. Meanwhile, 33.6mpg and 192g/km are not very fleet-friendly, but viable for small business owners. The 4MATIC with a 69 per cent rearward drive bias sounds fun, variable ratio speed-sensitive power steering is described as "highly authentic" (but we'll reserve judgement), and four-pot 360mm perforated front discs are there to cope with the predictably lardy 1,855kg kerbweight.
In short, this is not just a tarted-up GLC with a swift engine, but something Affalterbach has worked hard on to justify the AMG 43 branding. The default is to hate it, but, in the real world, you could certainly argue it's the modern-day equivalent to a W202 C43 AMG. If nothing else, it's not an X4.
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