An exquisite expression of absolute performance
The Mercedes-AMG C43 coupes, sedans and convertibles constitute the automotive equivalent of the mouse that roared. The muscular lineup also demonstrates the depths to which Mercedes-Benz will go to satisfy the urges of performance-minded people of means. No other automaker comes close to matching it in this regard.
Of the three body styles, the C43 Cabriolet is unquestionably the flashiest and, during the intricate lowering and raising of the soft top, the most entertaining. It’s also the best way to revel in the sweet, guttural sounds emanating from the tailpipes.
These days, relatively few convertibles dot the landscape and fewer still if you discount twoseat roadsters (convertibles with no back seat). At the upper end of the price spectrum, the Germany-based manufacturers have the field virtually to themselves, and Mercedes-Benz is clearly the sun king, with several makes and models to choose from.
If you like sun on your face, wind in your hair and a good kick when the accelerator is pushed, then the C43 is right up your alley. This is a car that loves to run hard and does so with an ease and smoothness.
At 1,865 kilograms, the C43 might seem hefty, but what resides within is the heart and soul of a lithe and nimble sports car.
The car begins life as your basic C300 cabriolet that’s equipped with a relatively tame 241horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine. But it’s a totally different animal once AMG (MB’s 50 year-old in-house tuner division) dives in.
The starting point is a twin-turbocharged 3.0litre V-6 that makes 362 horsepower and 384 pound-feet of peak torque. It’s connected to a nine-speed automatic transmission with manual shift controls. The C300 makes do with a seven-speed automatic. The C43 shifts effortlessly, but since the transmission normally wants to upshift to the highest gear under light cruising, it’s almost always in the wrong gear when it comes time for fun. For that, drivers can madly paddle-shift through the gears at will. BMW M4 Convertible Base price: $90,000. Pricey, but a serious German muscle car with 425 horsepower on tap.