Less fast, but it sounds better
The Mercedes-Benz C-Class and GLC have so far only been available with four-cylinders, but that is about to change. It starts with this brand new Mercedes-AMG GLC 53, which incidentally has significantly less power than the ‘old’ AMG.
A lot has already been said about the choices AMG has made for the mid-sized models with a ‘C’ in their name. Instead of bulky roaring beasts with a thick V8, they are now modern and somewhat soulless devices with a four-cylinder and a series of electric motors under the hood. Even 680 hp doesn’t help: the classic AMG enthusiast simply doesn’t want this. So Mercedes looked for another solution and found it in the powertrain of the Mercedes-AMG CLE 53. That’s not a V8, but an inline six-cylinder with a still respectable 449 hp. The latter also turns out to be precisely the power of the new Mercedes-AMG GLC 53. The three-liter turbo engine also has 600 Nm of torque, or even 640 Nm in overboost. The engine is boosted by a turbo, an electric compressor, and a 48V mild-hybrid helper, and is coupled to a Speedshift automatic transmission with nine gears.
The figures are quite impressive, but they cannot overshadow the bizarre power of the plug-in hybrid GLC 63 E-Performance. The Mercedes-AMG GLC 53 sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.2 seconds, 0.7 seconds slower than the 63.
A striking detail for such a sporty car: the GLC 53 is allowed to tow 2,400 kg, compared to 1,800 kg for the 63. From the fact that Mercedes refers to the 63 as ‘predecessor’ in the context of that towing weight, we deduce that the 63 will indeed disappear. Officially, this is not yet known, and the 63 is still simply in the price list. Since the milder Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 disappeared earlier, we expect that the 53 will replace both. This will apply to the GLC, but also to the C-Class. Do you want the space of the latter, but the weight and size of the former? Then Mercedes has the perfect solution: the Mercedes-AMG GLC is also available as a GLC Coupé.
