2016 Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 arrives as yet another ‘AMG 43’

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The 2016 Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 4MATIC has been revealed ahead of a debut at the New York Motor Show as Mercedes continues its ‘AMG 43’ roll-out.

The Mercedes GLC finally arrived last year to tackle cars like the BMW X3 and Audi Q5 as a far more convincing take on a compact SUV than the old GLK ever managed to be.

And now it’s time for the GLC to take on a performance mantle with this, the 2016 Mercedes-AMG GLC 43, revealed ahead of a debut at the New York Motor Show.

It’s yet another ‘AMG 43’ from Mercedes, as the ‘junior’ AMG models come thick and fast, with the 3.0 litre V6 twin-turbo petrol engine developing 362bhp and 383lb/ft of torque, enough to get to 62mph in 4.9 seconds and on to a limited 155mph.

The GLC43 comes as standard with Mercedes’ 9G-Tronic nine-speed automatic offering different driving modes including Eco, Comfort, Sport, Sport Plus and Individual, and the ‘box comes with double declutching and proper ‘manual’ control in Sport Plus.

Under the skin, Mercedes has fitted AMG Ride Control Sports Suspension with adaptive dampers offering three settings – Comfort, Sport, and Sport Plus – more powerful brakes, speed sensitive steering and AMG Dynamic Select to tweak the settings.

Cosmetically, the GLC43 gets the usual AMG makeover with a black diamond radiator grille, chrome front splitter, black mirrors, 19″ AMG alloys, new bumpers and quad tail pipes, with the interior getting sportier instruments, fake leather sports seats with red stitching and a new sports steering wheel.

With a debut at the New York Motor Show, we expect the Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 to go on sale at the start of the summer, and although Mercedes hasn’t revealed pricing for the GLC43 you can reasonably expect it to be the wrong side of £50k.