The regular Mercedes GLC SUV was released last year, and its sportier-looking coupe brother won’t be far behind. Mercedes-AMG is once again working up a two-tier lineup of high-performance GLC coupes, and both will downsize to four-cylinder powerplants with electric turbo technology.
We recently published spy shots of the range-topping GLC63, and now we’ve got pics of its GLC43 little brother. The 63 swaps its much-loved twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 for a four-cylinder PHEV setup that makes a massive 671 hp (680 PS), but the 43 skips the plug-in component for a more straightforward 48-volt mild hybrid assistance.
It’s the same drivetrain already fitted to the C43 sedan and is likely to be rated at the same 402 hp (408 PS), making it considerably less powerful than its big brother. In torque too, the 63 will assert its superiority, as the C63 S E Performance e makes 752 lb-ft (1,020 Nm) versus 369 lb-ft (500 Nm) for the C43.
But the GLC43 will offer significant price and weight advantages over the 63. Again, looking at the C-Class as a guide, the 63 costs more than $25,000 than its little brother and carries an additional 600 lbs (272 kg) of ballast.
Related: The 2023 Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 Is Shaping Up To Be A 671 HP Plug-In Hybrid Crossover
Perhaps of more relevance is how the new GLC43 will stack up against the model it replaces. If the new GLC43’s stats echo those of the C43, the 2023 crossover will put out 17 hp (18 PS) more but will give away 15 lb-ft (21 Nm) of torque.
Visually, there’ll be several strong clues to help you work out which AMG version of the new GLC you’re looking at. Both will get the classic Panamericana grille, but the 43 features smaller brakes, round instead of square tailpipes, and doesn’t have a charging flap on the left side rear fender.
Unsurprisingly, the interior, or at least the front section, is lifted directly from the GLC SUV, which itself is largely pinched from the C-Class sedan. That means it gains a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and an 11.90-inch infotainment screen running the latest MBUX software. Mercedes hasn’t released an official launch date or price yet, but we’re expecting to see the GLC43 in the first half of 2023.
