When the current generation Mercedes-Benz C-Class debuted, nearly everyone was unhappy to learn that there would be no engines with more than four cylinders. Even the top-of-the-line C43 and C63 versions from AMG are powered by electrified 2.0-liter inline-four engines. However, this does not imply that they are slow, as a recent film demonstrates the less potent model operating on the Autobahn.
Let’s begin by quickly reviewing the most crucial figures. The 2.0-liter turbocharged engine in the C43 AMG comes in a version with 402 horsepower (296 kilowatts) and 369 pound-feet of torque (500 Newton-meters). In this waggon version, the power hits all four wheels and is sufficient for a sprint from a standstill to 62 mph (0-100 kph) in just 4.7 seconds. Can it truly reach its maximum speed of 165 mph (265 kph), which is what it can do with the optional AMG Driver’s Package?
The solution is… almost. We don’t like to be too precise, but in this Autobahn footage, the fast estate reaches 163 mph (263 mph), which is just a little bit slower than what the car manufacturer claims. The GPS speed tracker shows that even though the instrument cluster indicates 172 mph (277 kph), the real speed is much lower. Unfortunately, we are unable to see the traffic in front of the vehicle, but we make the assumption that the C43 AMG can achieve 165 mph (265 kph) if the road conditions permit.
What about the run from 0-62 mph (0-100 kph)? The Stuttgart family car, however, performs that discipline surprisingly swiftly and even outperforms what the factory numbers claim. The car records a GPS-certified time of 4.57 seconds in this film, which is noticeably faster than the 4.7 seconds from the official datasheet for the vehicle. For the record, it takes 12.83 seconds to accelerate from 62 to 124 mph (100 to 200 kph), but Mercedes doesn’t give us that time to compare with actual statistics.
As a final point, the C43, available as a sedan and waggon, is the first mass-produced vehicle in the world to have an F1-inspired electric exhaust gas turbocharger.