MERCEDES-BENZ GLC 43 COUPE

Engine 2996cc, V6,

twin-turbo petrol Transmission 9-speed auto Power 362bhp @ 5500-6000rpm Torque 520Nm @ 2500-4500rpm

Weight 1855kg 0-100kmph 4.9sec (claimed) Top speed 250kmph (claimed) Price (ex-showroom) ` 74.8 lakh too quickly. It’s exciting enough for you to stop and want to try it again. And again. I know, because I did and finished it all with a grin that anyone high on dope would have been proud of. I am sure if I were at Daytona alongside Cole I might have beaten him in a straightline.

Now I don’t deny there are other cars that offer far more feral acceleration that would have seen a grin split my head in half. But out here on the narrow (for a vehicle of the GLC 43’s dimensions) roads of the Mutha ghats, every sensation of speed and acceleration was heightened. The fact that this is also a tall car where the rear squats just that little bit extra and wags a bit as it takes off, adds to the drama of it all. Perhaps the only thing that lets the whole experience down a bit is that 9G TRONIC transmission that feels a tad lazy for the rest of the powertrain package.

The two-speed AMG speed sensitive steering that had felt heavy cutting through the mass of slow moving jokers on the road to Mutha feels nicely weighted when I try out this 1.8-tonne behemoth. Despite a suspension that’s on the stiffer side of life the weight and height of the vehicle means that there is just that wee bit of body roll to contend with as you chuck the thing into turns. It isn’t unsettling but there is just enough of it to let you know that you’re in the driver’s seat of an SUV.

As a matter of fact, in spite of its bulk the GLC 43’s dynamics are superb. Throw it into a tight turn overenthusiastically and you’ll realise that there’s just a hint of the tail wanting to snap out before the tyres gain traction and the car cuts across the apex and heads for the exit with an urgency that belies its size. Once on your chosen line there is no indecision and the GLC 43 remains loyal to your input throughout until you get out on to the next straight. All the while those fabulously bolstered sport bucket seats hold you in place, making you feel safe and secure. At the cost of digressing I must mention that the seats have a particular feature that must be a boon in colder climes but can be quite annoying in India. I found out firsthand when I accidentally triggered its heating function in the middle of a tricky bend. With no attention to spare I couldn’t turn it off and in a matter of minutes my bum felt unnecessarily toasty. It’s a feature that would stand you in great stead if you’re heading up into the Himalayas but not the nicest of experiences out here in Mutha.

Back to the driving experience, an hour of goofing around on the Lap of Mutha had me convinced that given enough practice I might even beat Cole at the turns. Not just in a straightline. What is amazing is that despite the suspension having been stiffened to cope with the lateral forces of enthusiastic cornering, the ride quality doesn’t suffer too much. Admittedly, the ride is stiffer than what you would experience in your average Merc but it’s not anywhere near the kind of firmness that you would experience in another similar vehicle from another manufacturer. You see, the suspension here isn’t any ordinary one but AMG sport suspension based on Mercedes’ air suspension.

But when you have a vehicle with the threepointed star on the grille, the experience can’t just be about driving dynamics, even though that’s what AMG vehicles are primarily about. There has to be a certain degree of luxury involved. After all the tietoting sales guy at the dealership has to convince a buyer to part with close to 75 lakh, ex-showroom, for this vehicle. As a result the three-spoke sport steering wheel gets 12 controls – a bit baffling at the beginning – to fiddle around with. There are a pair of wonderfully crafted paddleshifters that I have already mentioned. A lovely sunroof will let you experience the heavens in all its glory in fair weather and of course a plethora of AMG kit to remind you that you’re in no ordinary Mercedes but one that was tricked out even before it arrived here. Last but not the least, exclusivity of the kind that the typical AMG clientele would want is almost guaranteed because even among AMG buyers not everyone would covet this shape. So, what you get is lots of power, thrilling dynamics, plenty of luxury and a car that is unlikely to be in your friend’s garage. In my books at least that makes the Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 Coupé a difficult package to argue with. ⌧

Despite the suspension being stiffened, the ride quality doesn’t suffer