Mercedes-AMG C43 4Matic

At this year’s Geneva Motorshow, it will be unveiling the Mercedes-AMG C43 4Matic. The new twin-turbo V6 is the second AMG version of its coupé to launch, following hot on the heels of the V8 powered C63, which debuted in Frankfurt in September 2015.

Although both are badged AMG and developed by the same team of performance obsessed experts, the two cars have their own visual characteristics. The C43 has different bumpers and wheels, and its own front grille treatment.

However, despite missing two cylinders compared with the C63, the new model’s engine is still able to output an impressive 367hp. That means the C43 can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 4.7 seconds and on to an electronically limited 250km/h top speed. That makes it just a fraction of a second slower off the mark than the C63.

And unlike its more potent stalemate, the power flows through a nine-speed automatic gearbox (that can double-declutch when set in sport mode) and to all four wheels for improved grip and handling, no matter the driving setup. The C63 has rear-wheel drive and a transmission with two fewer gears.

Having two cars so closely matched in terms of looks and performance in the same range may seem like a strange decision, but company chairman Tobias Moers disagrees. “The extension of the C-Class family to include the new C 43 4Matic Coupé is another component in our growth strategy,” he said.

The idea is to make AMG performance accessible to as many potential customers as possible. And that is why, according to Moers, the new car will also usher in the introduction of a host of other similar V6 AMG cars throughout the Mercedes vehicle range. “[It] starts the introduction of a whole series of new ‘43’ models this year,” he says.

The Mercedes-AMG C43 4Matic Coupé will make its global debut at the Geneva Motor show, which this year runs from 3 to 13 March.