The latest German weapon aimed at Australia will deliver incredible performance that was unheard of just a few years ago.
There are four impressive ones under the hood of the new Mercedes-AMG C43. Thanks to the turbo-electric technology derived from Formula 1, this powerful mid-size sedan drives like nothing with a 2.0-liter engine.
In the 1990s, 300 kW and 500 Nm power and torque outputs were the kind of numbers that made the 6.0-liter V8 of an HSV Commodore Clubsport exciting.
They are also exactly what the Mercedes-AMG C43 offers.
Mercedes-AMG makes the only other 2.0-liter turbo four that can improve, just only, the C43’s engine. It is located in the small hyperheated A45 S hatchback.
The two are closely related, not surprisingly, but their characters are different.
The engine of the sedan is designed to be mounted longitudinally, not laterally as in the hatchback.
But the major change is the C43’s large turbocharger. On the axis between its hot turbine and the coldest compressor is a small but powerful electric motor (6 kW). It is powered by the 48-volt battery of the car’s smooth hybrid belt drive system.
Mercedes-AMG began thinking about a 2.0-liter four-turbo electric turbo for the C43 six years ago, says development engineer Jan Habermann. The big question was whether it would have enough muscle to replace the 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 of the current version of the C43.
The answer came from Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains. They design and manufacture hybrid power units for their Formula 1 race cars. These have an electric turbo.
HPP was given a goal, including maximum power, to score. The British boffins figured it would work. In theory, at least.
According to Habermann, the then head of Mercedes-AMG, Tobias Moers, told the project team that they could have one million euros (about $ 1.5 million) to do more development, but he wanted a car to test the money.
So Habermann and his crew found an old first-generation A45 and installed a carefully built engine prototype. They added a switch inside the car so the testers, including Moers, could turn the electric turbo off and on.
An electrically driven turbo eradicates the delay between pressing the accelerator and feeling the power that affects engines with large turbochargers.
Deactivation of electrical assistance must have made a big difference in how the prototype is driven. The contrast between off and on convinced the management of Mercedes-AMG to give its approval to the 2.0-liter turbo C43.
The production version, scheduled to arrive in Australia around March or April next year, priced at close to $ 130,000, has plenty of Mercedes-AMG polishing for its quick acceleration.
Its standard all-wheel drive system ensures that nothing the engine produces is wasted due to the rotation of the wheels, even though two-thirds of the power is sent to the rear axle.
Highly effective adaptive shock absorbers and a discreet rear wheel steering system are also standard. These give the C43 a firm sporty driving feel even in Comfort mode (Sport and Sport + make things even tougher) and cornering agility.
The exterior features the distinctive AMG front, which includes the so-called Panamera grille, a very discreet boot spoiler, and a new 20-inch wheel designed to minimize drag. There will also be 18- and 19-inch wheels.
Inside the beautifully furnished cabin there are a couple of attractive and supportive sports front seats. In addition to the specific steering wheel for AMG, there are options for AMG only on the instrument screen and in the menus on the information and entertainment screen. It has also been promised that models in the Australian market will include a full driver assistance package, which will partly explain the price increase over the outgoing C43.
The only obvious flaw of the car is its nine-speed automatic transmission. Test cars a
the international launch in France underwent a horribly abrupt change at low speeds and slight accelerator openings. Mercedes-AMG engineers say they are already working on control software updates to fix the problem.
The engine, however, is a star. Since its slightly recorded idle, the sound is unmistakably four, especially the raw roar as it approaches its 7000 rpm red line. But performance always feels like something with more than four cylinders.
The electric turbo gives the C43 engine a speed and sharpness that make it a very compelling case for this Formula 1-inspired technology.
MERCEDES-AMG C43 4MATIC
PRICE $ 130,000 (east)
SECURITY 5 stars
ENGINE 2.0-liter 4-cylinder turbo 48-volt hybrid hybrid; 300 kW / 500 Nm
9-speed automatic transmission
SET TBA