The world is already well familiar with the ‘swoopier' of Mercedes-Benz’s smaller SUV, the GLC Coupe. Now, though, they will be unveiling it after being given the AMG treatment at the Paris Motor Show but have jumped the gun by showing off the car in full prior to its show floor premiere.
The Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 4Matic Coupe, to state its full name, has been given the same list of mechanical upgrades as well as subtle exterior and interior aesthetic tweaks that we’ve seen done before on other ’43’ tier Mercs.
We say subtle, because on those cars, the German automaker intends to bridge the gap between the standard versions of that particular car with the full AMG ’63’ versions. In so doing, the styling and visual panache has had to be toned down slightly as well.
Under the bonnet we find the same 3.0-litre bi-turbo V6 motor that’s been fitted to the E 43, GLE 43, and C 43 Coupe. It produces 270kW and 520Nm that can propel it to 100km/h from rest in 4.9 seconds. Drive is sent to all four wheels (hence the 4Matic bit) with a rearward bias through a 9-speed automatic transmission.
The AMG GLC 43 Coupe will be competing knock-for-knock with the Porsche Macan and to a lesser degree with the Audi SQ5. Both those rivals, however, outdo the Merc in terms of sheering thrust but, in the Porsche’s case, having to spend more on the Turbo variant.
The GLC 43 Coupe, though, wins out for comfort as standard air suspension replaces the conventional spring and damper setup, allowing for not only dynamic suspension firmness but also for an adjustable ride height.
Just as the exterior and engine are par for the course as far as 43-series Mercedes-AMG cars go, the interior too follows the kind of cues we’ve come to expect with black leather dominating the cabin and accented with red stitch work and a glossy carbon-esque finish on the centre stack.
Navigation and infotainment is handled by a 7-inch touchscreen unit that can be upgraded to 8.4-inches if the optional COMAND Online system is selected. Also an option is the excellent 13-speaker 590W Burmester surround sound system.
Mercedes-AMG will be offering the sportier GLC Coupe for booking starting in early October for selected markets following its Paris Motor Show debut on 28th September.
For more on Mercedes-AMG vehicles, including pricing and specifications, check out our Showroom.
