The new Mercedes-AMG GLC53 4Matic+ has been revealed, and there’s no four-cylinder engine in sight.
The popular mid-size SUV, which was unveiled overnight and is set to launch in Australia in the fourth quarter (October to December) of this year, features a turbocharged 3.0-litre inline-six engine.
This is in contrast to the existing GLC43 and GLC63, which both use a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine – with the latter featuring a plug-in hybrid system.
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The GLC53 produces 330kW of power and 600Nm of torque (or 640Nm with overboost for 10 seconds), putting it between the 310kW/500Nm GLC43 and the 500kW/1020Nm GLC63.
It uses the same basic engine as in the CLE53 and even offers the same power, but the torque has increased to 560 Nm (600 Nm with overboost) compared to the sporty two-door model.
This means that in Race Start mode, part of the AMG Dynamic Plus package, acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h is possible in 4.2 seconds. The GLC43 takes 4.8 seconds, while the GLC63 does it in 3.5 seconds.
Mercedes-AMG says it has “comprehensively redeveloped” the engine, with a new cylinder head with improved intake and exhaust ports, a new intake camshaft, a new intake system and a new intercooler.
The result is not only an increase in torque, but also better response across the entire speed range. Mercedes-AMG says it has a “strong appetite for revs.”
The exhaust gas turbocharger has also been “optimized”, while the electric additional compressor can now work almost continuously over a longer period of time and has an electrical output of 7.5 kW instead of 5 kW.
As with the CLE53, there is an integrated starter-generator in the transmission bell housing, part of a 48-volt mild hybrid system, capable of producing a short-term boost of 17 kW and 205 Nm while also handling energy recovery and the idle stop-start system.
For those concerned about the GLC53’s acoustic quality, Mercedes-AMG assures that it has an “emotional six-cylinder soundtrack” thanks to a new exhaust system with special resonators for crackles when taking off, a “bassy sound” under hard acceleration and “AMG-typical misfires”.
AMG Real Performance Sound with a manually controllable exhaust flap is available as an option.
Drive is via a nine-speed automatic transmission and fully variable all-wheel drive on all four wheels.
The driving modes Slippery, Comfort, Sport, Sport+ and Individual as well as a Race mode with the AMG Dynamic Plus package are available.
This package also includes a dynamic drift mode, active engine mounts, red-painted brake calipers and a microfiber-wrapped Microcut steering wheel.
The GLC53 has an AMG Ride Control suspension with steel springs and adaptive dampers. The level of hardness varies between the selectable suspension settings Comfort, Sport and Sport+.
The trendy SUV also features Mercedes-AMG’s three-stage speed-sensitive steering, the weight and feedback of which increases at higher speeds – especially in the Sport and Sport+ modes.
With standard rear-axle steering, the rear wheels steer in the opposite direction to the front wheels at speeds up to 100 km/h, increasing maneuverability, and parallel at speeds above 100 km/h for greater stability.
Braking power comes from 390 x 36 mm ventilated discs at the front and 360 x 26 mm discs at the rear, with four-piston fixed calipers at the front and single-piston floating calipers at the rear.
Combined fuel consumption is 9.4-9.9 l/100 km for the GLC53 and 9.2-9.7 l/100 km for the GLC53 Coupe, both in the WLTP test.
The CO2 emissions are also 214-225 g/km and 209-220 g/km respectively.
The ability of the all-wheel drive to decouple the front axle when driving “moderately” also contributes to increasing efficiency.
In addition to the AMG Dynamic Plus package mentioned above, Mercedes-AMG will offer a limited Golden Accents package – at least in Europe.
This package is only available with the exterior paintwork Obsidian Black or Graphite Gray Magno and brings Techgold accents, including on the rim flanges of the matt black 21-inch AMG forged wheels, behind which there are glossy black brake calipers with white AMG lettering.
The fuel tank cap is also finished in silver chrome with AMG lettering, while the interior features black leather upholstery in contrast to gold accents.
The AMG Night Package and the AMG Night Package II bring various high-gloss black exterior details. The latter is also equipped with the AMG Design Plus package, which includes, among other things, an enlarged front splitter and additional flics in high-gloss black as well as a larger rear spoiler.
The GLC53 is the first member of the second-generation GLC range to be without a four-cylinder engine, although its predecessor was offered with six and even eight-cylinder engines.
This improved six-cylinder powertrain is set to be introduced in the C-Class next, with the new C53 likely to replace the C63, which Mercedes-AMG has confirmed will be phased out.
Mercedes-Benz’s performance department has cited Euro 7 emissions regulations as the reason for phasing out the C63 and GLC63’s plug-in hybrid four-cylinder powertrain.
However, the move from a twin-turbo V8 to a PHEV four-cylinder for the hottest members of its C-Class and GLC lineup has also faced backlash from enthusiasts and accompanying slow sales.
The GLC53 will take on the BMW
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