Less Power To You

The Mercedes-AMG C43 Coupe is no bar-room brawler, but that may be a good thing.

- Pablo Chaterji

I once drove a car called the Mercedes- Benz C63 AMG. The experience of it is still imprinted in my memory, albeit in a blurry fashion, as if the actual drive itself happened in a blur – which it did. The C63 was one of the most visceral machines I’ve ever had a go at – under its veneer of Mercedes sophistication was a raw, almost rabid monster, itching to grab you by the throat. It was performance car motoring at its best — no-nonsense, take-no-prisoners, primal — and it had a soundtrack like a war zone. I remember thinking that a 4-door luxury sedan acting like this was utter insanity – much as it was thrilling - because even in the right hands, that car was close to terrifying.

Naturally, it had many takers, because one of the perverse joys of owning a manic car is the knife-edge that separates successfully taking a corner at full tilt — and finding yourself wrapped around a lamp post. However, not everyone wants a life-and-death experience every time they take a spin in a powerful car (and I understand this sentiment – sort of), so Mercedes decided to dial things down a bit and served up the C43 AMG, which got a V6 engine instead of the C63’s V8. This car came to India too — in fact I reviewed it in these pages — and did what it said on the cover, which was to provide a balance of thrills and comfort that didn’t leave you gasping for air.