The AMG GT Black Series is a road-legal race car, as it comes with centre lock wheels, front canards, side exit exhaust, and a huge swan neck rear wing. The AMG GT Black Series is based on the concept ‘Track Sport’ that Mercedes-Benz showcased a while back.

The previous-gen GT Black Series, which was launched in 2020, introduced a flat-plane twin-turbo V8, producing 730PS and 800Nm. As the upcoming GT Black Series sits above it, we can expect some serious performance from it, and maybe no electric assistance, as it will increase the weight of the car. 

Further details regarding the technical specifications and design of both vehicles are yet to be shared.

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The streamlining of the Mercedes-Benz line-up means that the C-Class coupé and the E-Class coupé both got the axe, to be replaced by this—the CLE Coupé (and the same holds true for the convertibles). We are getting the AMG version only, and this is just the second-ever worldwide appearance of the 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged straight-six in AMG-fied edition in a two-door body style, and the first such occurrence in India. Compared to the fire-breathing V8 AMGs that we know and love, both in naturally aspirated and turbocharged form, does the CLE 53 AMG, with its straight-six, has what it takes to recreate the magic and the terror? We shall find out, or die trying.

We received the media unit on a cloudy, overcast day. However, it came painted in a shade of yellow that Mercedes-Benz has dubbed the ‘Sun Yellow,’ and it managed to brighten up the whole neighbourhood. People stopped to look at it, smiled at it, and the more exuberant of the passersby came for a selfie as it was waiting for the driver, a hunkered-down beast of a machine, full of purpose. The proportions of the coupé body are excellent, which hides the size of the machine really well in photos. This big bruiser of a yellow coupé makes the Panamericana grille seem subtle in comparison! The perfect proportions continue to the side, particularly the ratio of the length of the bonnet to the cabin, which feels like it is in accordance with the golden ratio. The wide haunches at the rear, coupled with an aggressive-looking rear diffuser and the small lip spoiler on the bootlid, complete the look. I would like to note my weakness for the modern AMG wheel design, intricate and many-spoked—I feel like if the iconic BBS RS were to be redesigned today, it would look similar to the ones on the CLE 53.

The interior is clad in vast swathes of Alcantara and carbon fibre, with a few brushed aluminium highlights dotted around the cockpit. Unfortunately, most of the controls are integrated into the MBUX infotainment screen measuring 11.9 inches. The driver’s display, like all modern cars from Stuttgart, is eminently configurable. I also prefer when these are two separate screens, unlike a certain other German manufacturer. The ambient lighting is fun to play with for a moment, but let’s be honest, people don’t buy this car for the ambient lighting or the MBUX system or even the safety features, of which there are many. So we move on to the raison d’être of this, and all cars from Affalterbach—the engine.

Unlike the Mercedes-AMG C 63 S E Performance that caused a global backlash when the 63 badges were affixed to a four-cylinder car (it was launched in India at a price of ₹1.95 crore ex-showroom last year), the Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 Coupé comes with a 3.0-litre, twin-turbocharged, in-line, six-cylinder powerplant, which, aided by a mild hybrid system that, courtesy of an electric boost by the 48 volt system, generates 449 Pferdestärke—thoroughbred German horsepower, along with 560Nm. Funnily enough, despite having two extra cylinders, it is lighter than the aforementioned C ‘63,’ tipping the scales at 2,000kg. However, there is a disconnect between the engine and the 9-speed transmission—it doesn’t matter which gear you’re in, the engine has a very small rpm window where it is in peak power, and then it shifts up. While the upshifting can be stopped in manual mode, you still have a very narrow window to play with, which makes drifting it quite tricky as well, despite the presence of the aforementioned drift mode.

Where this car does shine is in its ride and handling characteristics. The steering is quite quick, though that changes based on the mode selected, but what really makes you question the size of this large-ish coupé is the 4-wheel steering. What 4-wheel steering does is make the effective wheelbase of the car shorter, thus endowing it with the kind of agility that’s simply unexpected in a big, luxurious coupé like this one here. The CLE 53 dives into turns enthusiastically and holds the line with nary a hint of understeer (as long as you’re in Sport mode or above). As the 4-wheel steering takes care of the agility, Mercedes has been able to tune the rest of the car for stability and comfort. The dampers offer exceptional suppleness for something like this, and the car tracks true at triple-digit lane change manoeuvres. Braking is also an area in which the CLE 53 is better than you expect it to be, and retardation is completely predictable, particularly at the entry to corners.

So, what to make of the CLE 53 Coupé? It is tremendously capable car, but it suffers a little from the middle child syndrome—it is not as compact as the C-Class coupé, nor as comfortable as the E-Class coupé; it is not as mental as the turbocharged fury of the AMG 2.0-litre four-cylinder, which in the C 43 Sedan makes just 40PS less than the CLE 53, but doesn’t have the aural and tactile drama of the 4.0-litre V8, which sounds like the fury of the gods have been unleashed on the planet. Therefore, the question remains just what kind of dragon it is. Well, I feel it is a Komodo dragon, because it is quite intimidating, and despite its size, can move with incredible alacrity and display exceptional agility, belying its size. However, if your heart is set on a fire-breathing kind of dragon, you’d better wait for Mercedes-AMG to put the V8 into this. For the rest of those who are more open-minded, this is as much AMG as one might need or want, particularly at the kind of price (₹1.35 crore ex-showroom) it is sold at. Also, not having any direct rival means it is indeed the apex predator of its domain, and that’s all an AMG needs to be.  

The post Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 First Drive Review first appeared on Turbocharged.

Both cars come equipped with a 4.0-litre bi-turbo V8 engine linked to an AMG 9-speed automatic transmission and 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive. In the standard GT 63, the engine delivers 585PS and 800Nm of torque, enough to launch it from 0-100kmph in 3.2 seconds and reach a top speed of 315kmph. The GT 63 Pro raises the bar with 612PS and 850Nm, improving acceleration to 3.1 seconds and slightly increasing the top speed to 317kmph.

The Pro gets extra equipment to handle track driving. It comes with larger ceramic brakes for better stopping power, 21-inch forged wheels, and improved cooling systems that help the car maintain performance under hard use. A special aero package with a fixed carbon rear wing helps keep the car planted at high speeds. Compared to the old AMG GT, the new version is bigger all around. It’s longer, wider, taller, and has a longer wheelbase, which also makes the cabin feel roomier. Buyers can pick from bold paint options such as Sun Yellow and Spectral Blue, or more exclusive Manufaktur colours like Alpine Grey and Opalith White.

Inside, the GT 63 has a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, an 11.6-inch infotainment display, AMG sports seats, and a Burmester audio system. The Pro model adds aluminium details and microfiber on the steering wheel for an even sportier feel. Both models will come to India via CBU (Completely Built Unit).

The post Mercedes-AMG GT 63 and GT 63 Pro launched in India first appeared on Turbocharged.

First things first, the new GLC 43 Coupe looks a lot more alluring thanks to its more muscular design. It’s the rear end of this coupe SUV that looks more attractive than the front, given its sloping roofline, quad exhausts, and splitters. The new tail lamps help it look gorgeous, along with the ‘lip’ spoiler. The new front end looks more appealing, too, thanks to the redesigned headlamps and DRLs, Panamericana grille, ‘Night Package’ that replaces all chromed bits with gloss black ones, and the muscular bumper. Our SUV was also running the optional 21-inch wheels (stock size is 20 inches), and these add to its looks too. The GLC 43 also looks very good from the sides – it is almost 4.8 meters long and, with the sloping roofline, makes for a riveting appearance. This, coupled with the massive 265/40 R21 tires at the front and even bigger 295/35 R21 tires at the rear, make for an imposing road presence.

Heck, the wife even opined that thanks to its matte black paint job, design, and dimensions, the GLC 43 Coupe would make for a perfect Batmobile for Bruce Wayne! Its interiors are familiar-looking and standard Mercedes-Benz/AMG affair, to say so, reminding of the C-Class and GLC, thanks to its design and choice of materials. The flat-bottomed steering wheel is covered in Alcantara and real carbon fiber and also houses the two additional, customizable buttons in the bottom half, in typical AMG style. The center console is home to the massive touchscreen, which is your home to most functions and is straight off the GLC. The dashboard is swathed in faux carbon fiber, while its top half is covered in soft-touch leather, and this part also houses the aviation-style air-conditioning vents.

The instrument cluster integrates AMG-specific displays that look very sporty and also give a lot of information, including how much pressure you’re applying on the brake pedal or throttle at any given time. You can customize the head-up display too. Seats feel rich and are firm yet supportive, as you would expect of a performance luxury SUV costing north of Rs 1 crore, while seat belts are red, again an AMG trait. The rear seat is spacious, but under-thigh support could be better, while headroom is decent at best given the sloping roof. Features include Merc’s 64-color ambient lighting, nine airbags, wireless charging, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, heated but not cooled front seats, fingerprint scanner to use your saved settings on the infotainment system, ADAS (with the need to switch collision avoidance off every time you turn the car off!), and a 15-speaker Burmester audio system.

Headlining this generation change for the GLC 43 Coupe, though, is the downsized engine. The new 2.0-liter four-pot turbocharged petrol engine has replaced the 3.0-liter V6, but power output is up to a more significant 421 PS from 390 PS now, though peak torque is marginally down by 20 Nm, to 500 Nm. That said, you get an additional 14 PS and 150 Nm courtesy of the 48V mild hybrid system and electric turbocharger. This engine’s turbocharger uses a tiny electric motor to accelerate its compressor wheel and keep it spinning before exhaust gases flood it, to minimize lag. Clearly an ode to the German marque’s prowess in F1 and technology that helps the GLC 43 impress on the road. Performance is relentless, and you’re riding a fat wave of torque throughout, almost all the way to the redline. The engine also sounds good and belies being merely a four-cylinder engine, though, yes, I did miss the V6’s theatrics. The 9-speed MCT is quick to respond, and the paddles work well, but the gearbox doesn’t allow downshifting aggressively, even in Sport+ or Race mode.

Driving modes alter suspension settings, too, besides the powertrain, and Sport+ and Race mode will have you break into a smile on a good road, but the smiles wane the moment you hit a broken road. This is a performance luxury SUV, after all, and is meant to be driven fast, but Pune’s rain-battered roads meant I had to stick to Comfort, or Sport at best. The suspension feels borderline stiff even in Comfort, which also subdues the exhaust note. That said, the GLC 43 Coupe is no less than a sportscar on stilts, given its sporty handling. When driving enthusiastically, you can have onlookers gawk in disbelief at how well it handles despite its size and heft, and except for the tall seating, the GLC 43 feels no different from a sports sedan. It grips tarmac unbelievably and is also very impressive around corners thanks to the rear-axle steering that can turn the rear wheels by up to 2.5 degrees to aid handling.

This new GLC 43 Coupe is thus a pleasant surprise. It is wildly more entertaining and more capable than its predecessor, and feels even closer to being a sportscar now. The only difference is that you have to climb into the GLC 43 as opposed to lowering yourself into one. All that sportiness comes at the expense of occupant comfort and ride quality, but then, if you’re looking at the GLC 43 Coupe, you’re probably not going to be ferrying your family in it. Also, importantly, the GLC 43 isn’t assembled locally anymore and comes in as a full import, which has also driven its price up. The SUV retails at Rs 1.11 crore ex-showroom now, a significant hike. That said, it does feel worth the price, given the performance and its overall appeal, despite losing the bragging rights of having a 3.0-liter V6 under the hood. I should perhaps plan another road trip to the Himalayas this winter, then?

The post 2024 Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 Coupe: First Drive Review first appeared on Turbocharged.

With the festive season just around the corner, Mercedes-Benz India has delivered on its promise of 10 car launches in the calendar year 2023. The last two of the lot coming together- the GLE LWB starting at Rs 96.40 lakh onwards and the C 43 AMG at Rs 98 lakh ex-showroom.

Mercedes-Benz GLE LWB
The leading luxury SUV from the German automaker has undergone a subtle update, featuring a fresh, star-studded front grille, redesigned bumpers, new LED headlamps and taillamps, and new 20-inch twin-spoke alloy wheels. What’s even more significant are the interior updates, as the GLE now offers new upholstery choices with improved materials and a powerful 590W Dolby Atmos Audio system. The GLE has borrowed the touch-sensitive steering wheel from the S-Class, which also provides haptic feedback. The air conditioning vents now come with a chrome trim and there’s a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment unit with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, along with a 12.3-inch driver’s display. Standard features now include wireless charging and USB-Type C ports.

The GLE is available in three variants: the 300d, 450, and 450d. All the engines are mated to a 9-speed automatic gearbox, which sends power to all four wheels through Mercedes’ 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system. Each of the three engines is equipped with a mild-hybrid 48V integrated starter-generator, adding an extra 20PS and 200Nm to their total outputs. Moreover, the off-road package provides users with a transparent bonnet function, and the top-of-the-line GLE 450 and 450d models also come equipped with air suspension.

The GLE 300d is equipped with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel unit that produces 269PS and 550Nm, resulting in a 0-100kmph time of 6.9 seconds. The GLE 450d employs a 3.0-litre inline six diesel engine with 367PS and 750Nm of torque.

As for the petrol-powered GLE 450, it features another inline six-cylinder, this time in turbo-petrol configuration to produce 381PS and 500Nm. Both 450 variants – petrol and diesel – can accelerate from 0-100kmph in just 5.6 seconds.

Mercedes-AMG C 43
The C 43 is the ninth addition to the Mercedes-AMG lineup, emphasising the marque’s commitment to its enthusiast clientele. The C 43 is introduced in a single variant with a starting price of Rs 98 lakh, ex-showroom.

Starting at the front, the C 43 now gets to showcase the iconic Panamericana grille, featuring 14 slats, a design previously reserved for the 63 variants. Other noticeable changes include the incorporation of adaptive LED headlamps with a single daytime running light, prominent air intakes on the front bumper with black accents and glossy black wing mirrors. Along the sides, the Turbo Electrified badge stands out, differentiating it from the standard version. The silhouette is a familiar one with 18-inch alloy wheels and a conventional four-door sedan body. Inside the vehicle, you’ll find AMG-specific digital graphics displayed on the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and the 11.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The interior is further enhanced with an AMG-themed leather-wrapped flat-bottom steering wheel, sporty seats, pedals, and striking red seat belts. Notable features include Mercedes’ intelligent automatic headlights, known as Digital Light, and a 710W, 15-speaker Burmester sound system.

The most significant change, compared to its predecessor, is the reduction in the number of cylinders. However, through some technical wizardry, the C 43 has managed to increase its power output. The C 43 now features a 4-cylinder engine instead of the previous 6-cylinder, but it now produces 407.8PS and 500Nm of torque. Like the GLE, it is equipped with a 48-volt starter generator, enabling this sedan to accelerate from 0 to 100kmph in just 4.6 seconds and reach a top speed of 249kmph, which is electronically restricted. Power is delivered to all four wheels via Mercedes-AMG’s 4MATIC drive system through a 9-speed automatic gearbox, which comes with a ‘Race Start’. However, the system is biassed towards the rear wheels, with 31 percent of the torque sent to the front axle and 69 percent to the rear axle.

Extensive modifications have been carried out on the chassis. These alterations encompass a revamped front axle, the integration of AMG Ride Control suspension featuring double wishbones at the front and multi-links at the rear coupled with adaptive dampers. Notably, the C 43 model now benefits from rear-wheel steering, similar to the larger sedans in the lineup. This feature not only reduces the turning radius by turning in the opposite direction at slow speeds but also enhances high-speed stability by turning in the same direction at speeds exceeding 60kmph. Additionally, an improvement in braking performance is asserted, courtesy of the introduction of new 370mm steel discs with four-piston callipers at the front and 320mm steel discs with single-piston floating callipers at the rear.

Mercedes has opened bookings for both the cars and have started deliveries for the same.

The post Mercedes-Benz launches the GLE LWB and the AMG C 43 first appeared on Turbocharged.