2017 Mercedes C43 does 'AMG Lite' two ways

Don't let that name fool you – the Mercedes-AMG C43 is already a very familiar vehicle. It's currently known as the C450 AMG Sport, a sort of middle child between the standard C300 and the bonkers (and lovely) C63. Think of it as AMG Lite, perfectly blending all of the comfort and compliance of the standard C-Class with a lot of the power and poise of the full-on C63. So with the launch of the C-Class Coupe and Convertible models, Mercedes is bestowing the two-door Cs with AMG 43 versions.

The heart and soul of the 2017 Mercedes-AMG C43 is a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6, good for 362 horsepower and 384 pound-feet of torque. In the case of the cabriolet, hitting 60 miles per hour takes just over four and a half seconds, and top speed is limited to 155 mph.

In addition to the AMG 43 models, the C300 Cabriolet debuts in Geneva this week, powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four. Like the rest of the C300 models, it makes 241 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque, which is still plenty of power to move the slick new C-Class.

The C300 convertible arrives this summer; the AMG C43 arrives this fall. Check out more details in the press blast below.

slide-3818013 Image Credit: Drew Phillips Source