Mercedes-AMG SLC43 to be launched in India on July 26, 2016
We had told you before that the Mercedes-AMG SLC43 will arrive on our shores in 2016. We now know that the Mercedes-AMG SLC43 will be officially launched on July 26, 2016. It is basically a facelifted SLK, but now closer to the C-Class platform, which incorporates the carmaker's current design philosophy and gets a new name. In terms of cosmetic updates, the front end as well as headlamps are completely new while an angular bonnet and the Mercedes diamond grille have been seen on other newer Merc models. At the rear it gets new lamps and bumper.
On the inside too, the cabin layout of the SLC is similar to the SLK apart from the incorporation of a new aluminium trim, new colour themes and a more upmarket gear selector. The other change is a bigger 7-inch display unit with a higher resolution compared to the 5.8-inch unit in the SLK.
The Mercedes-AMG SLC43 is powered by a 2996cc, 6 cylinder, twin turbo engine which makes 367PS between 5,500-6,000rpm and a peak torque of 520Nm which is available from 2,000rpm. Mercedes claims that the SLC43 AMG can accelerate from 0-100kmph in 4.7 seconds and attain an electronically limited top speed of 250kmph. The engine is mated to a nine-speed automatic gearbox with the power being sent to the rear wheels.
There are five driving modes-economy, comfort, sport, sport+ and individual to choose from. Depending on the driving mode selected, the engine, transmission and steering characteristics are altered to either deliver a sporty or comfortable driving experience. As the name suggests, in the individual driving mode the driver can custom select parameters as per his/her requirements.
It also gets aluminium paddle shifters and a M button which gives drivers the flexibility of changing gears manually. Mercedes-Benz is likely to offer AMG Ride Control as an optional extra which features an electronically controlled damping system that can determine parameters for each wheel independently.
Another bit worth talking about is the AMG sports exhaust system whose acoustics are altered depending on the selected driving mode. It features two electronically controlled exhaust flaps whose positioning gets adjusted as per the engine speed via the pre-stored maps in each driving mode. In the Sport and Sport+ driving modes, the exhaust makes a sporty backfire sound during downshifts.
Globally, the Mercedes-Benz SLC is available with a host of engine options. For starters, there's the SLC 180 which is powered by a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol version which produces 156PS and a maximum torque of 250Nm. For those who seek a bit more excitement, there's the bigger 2.0-litre, four cylinder petrol engine which is offered in two states of tune-184PS/300Nm in the SLC 200 and 245PS/370Nm in the SLC 300.
The SLC engine line-up also includes the same 2.2-litre diesel unit which also powers the current Mercedes-Benz C-Class. In the SLK it produces 204PS and 500Nm of torque. We don't know yet if Mercedes-Benz India will offer the SLC with all the engine options as and when other variants will trickle down to our market. Needless to say we have got the most exciting and tyre shredding version of the Mercedes-Benz SLC for now.
More from OVERDRIVE on the Mercedes-AMG SLC43
Image gallery: 2016 Mercedes-Benz SLC
2016 Detroit Motor Show: Mercedes-Benz SLC to replace SLK
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1796cc
Automatic
160.4
215
12.82 Kmpl
Starts Rs 55 Lakhs
1993cc
Automatic
204
550
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Starts Rs 82.2 Lakhs
2996cc
Automatic
367
520
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