GLC 43 Coupe joins its sibling swapping the bi-turbo V6 for a mild-hybrid 2.0-litre four-cylinder. Image: Mercedes-AMG
With both standard and coupe derivatives already out, Mercedes-Benz has officially completed the line-up of GLC models with the reveal of the AMG versions of the latter.
Joining the standard AMG GLC rolled-out just over two months ago, the coupe follows the same route by being offered in 43 and 63 guises, the former swapping the 3.0-litre bi-turbo V6 for a mild-hybrid 2.0-litre four-cylinder and the latter the bi-turbo 4.0-litre V8 for the 2.0-litre plug-in hybrid electrified inline-four that powers the C63.
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Benefitting from the same aesthetic tweaks as the standard GLC Coupe, the 43 and 63’s newly incorporated additions comprise the AMG Panamericana grille and front apron, wider door sills, standard 19-inch alloy wheels with up to 21-inches available on the latter, and darkened headlights.
As before, the exterior can be spruced up further by way of the optional carbon fibre or night packages, with the revisions at the rear, bar the AMG and 43 or 63 badges, consisting of a darkened red LED light bar connecting the clusters.
In the case of the 43, two dual exhaust outlets and a faux diffuser arrangement have been opted for at the rear, with the 63 receiving a trapezoidal pair of four exhausts combined with a functional double diffuser.
Underneath, the three-pointed star has carried over the GLC 43 and GLC 63’s chassis changes to the coupe, which in the former’s case consists of the updated AMG Ride Control suspension with adaptive dampers, retuned electric power steering and the first time availability of the AMG rear-axle steering system as an option.
Providing stopping power are the AMG steel brakes made-up of a four-piston caliper setup at the front and single at the rear, with respective disc sizes of 370 mm and 360 mm.
Reserved for the 63 is the 48-volt Active Roll Stabilisation system, seven modes for the Dynamic Select system as opposed to the 43’s five, the standard fitting of the rear-axle steering system and the ability to fully disengage the Electronic Stability Programme.
In terms of braking, the steel brakes make way for the AMG composite setup comprising a six-piston caliper design at the front and a single at the rear with disc sizes of 390 mm and 370 mm respectively.
Inside, the carried over changes from the GLC Coupe include the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and the portrait-style 11.9-inch MBUX infotainment system.
Unique to the 43 though are the AMG sport seats trimmed in Artico faux or optional full Nappa leather, AMG illuminated door sills, the AMG Performance steering wheel covered in Nappa leather, alloy gear shift paddles and the option of the AMG Performance seats and Head-Up Display.
For the 63, the same AMG graphics and readouts within the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 11.9-inch MBUX infotainment system as on the 43 apply, but the model comes fitted as standard with the mentioned Head-Up Display plus the AMG Performance seats trimmed in Nappa leather and Artico man-made leathers.
Up front, the mentioned change in power sees the combination of the mild-hybrid turbocharged 2.0-litre engine in the GLC 43 develop 300kW/500Nm as opposed to the 287kW/520Nm made by the bi-turbo V6 in the preceding model.
Additionally aided by the 48-volt belt starter/generator upping outputs by 10kW/150Nm for short spells, the AMG GLC 43 Coupe, which tips the scales at 1 995 kg, will get from 0-100 km/h in 4.8 seconds and reach a limited top speed of 250 km/h.
As before, the AMG optimised 4Matic+ all-wheel-drive system delivers the amount of twist to all four corners via the nine-speed MCT 9G transmission.
Joining the standard GLC 63 S E-Performance as the most powerful SUV Stuttgart now sells, the coupe produces 500kW/1 020Nm as a result of the M139 2.0-litre engine being combined with not only the mild-hybrid system and an electric turbocharger but also a 6.1-kWh battery that drives an 80 kW electric motor positioned on the rear axle.
Despite weighing 2 310 kg, 75 kg more than the normal GLC 63, the GLC 63 Coupe S E-Performance will still get from 0-100 km/h in 3.5 seconds and hit the electronic top speed limiter at 275 km/h.
As with the GLC 43 Coupe, drive is routed to the 4Matic+ system through a nine-speed MCT 9G ‘box.
Set to go on-sale either towards the end of the year or early next year with an exact date still to be announced, neither the GLC 43 Coupe nor the GLC 63 Coupe S E-Performance have so far been confirmed for South Africa similar to their respective GLC siblings.
Should approval be given though, expect both to become a reality sometime in 2024.
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