Mercedes-AMG C43 scores 300kW four-cylinder, Australian release set for 2023

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The 2023 Mercedes-AMG C43 swaps its trademark turbo V6 powertrain for a mild-hybrid version of AMG’s hi-po four-cylinder in W206 form.

Revealed in full this morning and set for Australian release in the first half of 2023, the C43 sees two cylinders lopped when compared to the V6 W205 but the four-cylinder gains 13kW of power – but it loses 20Nm of torque.

The new C43’s M139 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine debuted in AMG’s current-generation A45 hyper-hatch and will be used from the end of this year in the brand’s new SL43 roadster.

Producing an even 300kW of power (402 horsepower) and 500Nm of torque, the W206-generation C43 outpunches the old V6 by 0.1sec, with AMG claiming the four-cylinder manages the 0-100km/h sprint in 4.6sec despite the 20Nm torque deficit.

A nine-speed multi-clutch automatic transmission is the sole gearbox, while the C43 continues to use a rear-biased all-wheel drive system. Fuel economy will be in the range of 9L/100km.

Like the SL43 but unlike the A45, the C43 benefits from a 48-volt mild-hybrid system that adds short bursts of an additional 10kW of power in certain circumstances while reducing fuel consumption much of the time.

While the C43 will be offered in both four-door sedan and five-door station wagon guises overseas, Mercedes-Benz Australia remains cold on the notion of bringing the new C-Class estate to Australia.

That’s despite rival Audi continuing to sell its entrant in this space, the S4, in sedan, wagon and even liftback S5 iterations locally. Meanwhile, the BMW M340i is, like the C43, sedan-only in Australia.

Both the Audi and BMW continue to use six-cylinder engines in this sort of car. In the development phase of the new W206 C-Class, Mercedes-Benz made clear that the latest generation of its classic ‘Baby Benz’ would have no engine with more than four cylinders.

The incoming 2023 C63, which will slot above the newly-revealed C43, is expected to bundle the same basic 2.0-litre M139 engine but with an additional plug-in hybrid system taking combined power up to about 400kW (536 horsepower).

AMG continues to experiment with plug-in hybrid powertrains, with the brand adopting a performance-focussed plug-in system on the AMG GT63 four-door. The 2.0-litre PHEV is also expected to be adopted in the next-generation E63 large sedan.

Adaptive dampers and a four-wheel steering system will be standard-fit on the 2023 C43 – features also found in the Engineering Package of the non-AMG C-Class models. The brake discs measure 370mm up front and 320mm in the back; overseas, 18-inch wheels are standard but expect the Australian specification to feature 19s or 20s.

Sitting below the C43 in the Australian C-Class lineup are the 1.5-litre turbo C200 (150kW/300Nm) and the 2.0-litre C300 (190kW/400Nm). Both are mild-hybrid powertrains.

Mercedes-Benz C-Class 2022: prices in Australia

All prices listed are fixed national Mercedes-Benz prices, before on-road costs.

• C200 sedan: $78,900
• C300 sedan: $91,400
• C43 sedan: TBA