Mercedes-AMG SLC43 First Drive Review

I know environmentalists will scoff at me for this, but I'm not a big fan of downsizing. While the engines become smaller, more fuel-efficient and friendlier to the glaciers in the Antarctic, they inevitably end up losing something immeasurable - soul. And Mercedes-AMG V8s were known for just that. The ability to reach down your throat, into your gut and give it a good twist while you grin like a happy puppy. So, when I was given the keys to the SLC43 AMG, I secretly prayed it would play around with my internals and give me a fuzzy feeling in the stomach.

The SLC is the first car to bear the '43 AMG' badge, at least in India. So, in comes a 3.0-litre, twin turbo V6 in place of the mammoth 5.5-litre V8. The new motor produces less power - 367PS vs 421PS - and marginally less torque - 520Nm vs 540Nm. "Does that make it less of an AMG?", I thought to myself as I thumbed the start-stop button, half expecting a muted burble as the V6 came to life. What I was forgetting, though, is that I was at the helm of an AMG. And the good folks at Mercedes' tuning division take their exhausts very seriously. So, no - it isn't muted by any definition. Admittedly, it doesn't come to life with the same ferocity as the good old V8, but the sound still hits home. It sounds snarly and aggressive, and I particularly like how they haven't bothered filtering engine and exhaust notes through the speakers. Thumbs up.

I blipped the throttle a couple of times just to get a feeler. "This is going to be fun", I muttered as I strapped myself into the low, comfy bucket seats and put the Drive Select to Sport+. Has the V6 motor caused it to lose soul? Not as much as you would think. Other than the noise, I'm pretty sure most would believe me if I said the SLC43 has a big, naturally aspirated motor. In spite of the turbos, there isn't even a hint of lag in the lower rungs of the rev range. I like how acceleration is linear in the 'sane zone' of the tachometer and outright crazy in the 'oh boy zone'. Climb past 2,000rpm and the little SLC tells you it truly deserves its own AMG badge. It shoves you into your seat, the pre-tensioners adjust one more time as it braces you for the torque-filled roller-coaster ride. 

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The best part is that the torque refuses to die out. Even when the tacho is just a thousand clicks away from the redline, there is another bucketload of shove at your disposal. In Sport+, the new 9-speed gearbox comes into its own. It swaps cogs before you can blink, and most importantly, it knows when to hold on to the revs right up to the redline and when to short shift up. For instance, when tackling a broken road that led to a glorious set of twisties, it didn't unnecessarily hold on to first. Instead, it shifted to second, letting me have a slightly relaxed throttle response. When I got to the corners eventually and flexed the right foot, the gearbox didn't let go of the gear till the tacho bounced off the redline. It is definitely the unsung hero of the entire package. Thumbs up nummer zwei, Mercedes. 

Going tail-out in a compact roadster is my definition of a well-done road trip, but the SLC43 AMG clearly likes being in control. The ESP itself gets three modes that let you set the intensity of the nanny that is shielding you. The system is 'On' by default, and you can choose between 'Sport Handling' and 'Off' depending on how many new sets of tyres you can afford. With the ESP switched on, the rear never lets go completely but steps out momentarily to give you that little kick of adrenalin. And, for the split second that it does slip a bit, it feels utterly controllable and weirdly, not scary. 

Due credit to the steering here, that has nothing but oodles of feel to give you. The term 'precise' would be short-selling it. It gives you the perfect amount of feedback and has just the right amount of weight that makes corner carving all that more interesting. Of course, there's the compact wheelbase and the well-tuned suspension too, that makes the SLC43 AMG as agile as a house fly. Stitching bends one after the other in a car that obeys every little input from the hands and feet is a delight! It goes straight onto my personal list of 'favourite cornering cars', in terms of outright flickability and more importantly, FUN. 

"Time to stop for some statics", yelled Vikrant, our photographer, from the tracking car. I parked it at the edge of a cliff (quite literally) and took a couple of steps back to soak in the view. There it was. A red splatter on a canvas of green topped off with some white. Mercedes hasn't tinkered with the design too much. While it aped the SLR hypercar back then, it wants to look like a baby AMG GT now. And that isn't necessarily a bad thing, mind you. I wasn't a huge fan of the SLR-like jet-fighter nose, and I'm glad the update and this consequent facelift has got rid of it.

The new face, especially with the updated grille instantly makes you think of its big brother. But it isn't as curvy or outright bonkers as the GT. It is a tad old school too, if I dare say. It is hard to go wrong with classic compact roadster proportions (let's pretend the Daihatsu Copen does not exist) and Mercedes hasn't gone wrong with the detailing either. The crisp lines, the LED lamps and the large 18-inch wheels wrapped in some fat (and sticky) rubber work well together in creating a fun-looking roadster. There are trademark AMG touches too. The low splitters, the gills on the fenders and the vents on the bonnet all find their own rightful spot on the SLC43. Drop the roof down, and it looks even better. Also, you know a car is well-designed when practically everyone is staring at it. It is a selfie-magnet, too. Whatever few cars passed our path, made sure to either stick their heads out of the window to grab another look or stopped to click a picture with it. Headturner? Oh yes! 

While the exteriors look refreshing, I do wish Mercedes had given the interiors a thorough makeover as well. There's absolutely nothing to whine about in terms of quality or fit, but the design does seem dated. The SLC, in my books, has always been a sportscar for the young (at heart, or otherwise) and having a whole number pad slap bang on the centre console is as youthful and trendy as a brown tweed jacket. I like it when manufacturers keep things simple, clean and minimal. And, for a car that is as clean and as chic on the outside, the interiors do look slightly 2005. There are little details that I absolutely adore, though. For instance, the little gear selector. It is roughly the size of your computer mouse, and the rubbery texture on top, with the 'SLC' embossing looks and feels nice. The aviation-inspired air vents, finished in brushed silver look super slick too. Last but not the least, there's the analogue clock on top of the dash that reminds you it is time to go home. 

Snuggled in the super snug bucket seats, I thumbed the start button yet again. This time, I set it to Comfort. I was done tangoing with the throttle, shimmying with the steering and ballet dancing with the brakes. It was time for me to head home, and all I wanted was some good music, the wind in my hair and a relaxing drive. I did not want the engine to yell and shout, I would be okay if the exhaust went on a hike, and I would be more than happy if the gearbox upshifted early. The SLC did just that. The steering continues to be the delightful little bundle of joy it is (albeit with less weight) and everything else tends to take a step back. The suspension is slightly lenient too and doesn't thud or crash. You would still have to be super careful about the low-slung nose, though. Go diagonally over speed breakers, and it will clear most without causing a heartburn. 

For the casual coffee runs, and the 'let's go for a spin for no apparent reason' drives, Comfort mode works best. In spite of you sitting just a foot off the ground, you exactly know where the four corners of the car are. Naturally, everyday tasks such as parking, u-turns and making sure a rogue rickshaw doesn't damage the expensive paintwork are easily dealt with. The Eco mode dulls out the throttle too much for my liking. I believe efficiency is barely a concern if you intend of splurging close to 90 big ones for the car, so just leave it in Comfort. There's no joy making the turbo V6 sip through a pinched straw anyway. From what Mercedes' driver told us, a relaxed highway run in the SLC will fetch a respectable 11kmpl. Play with the throttle like I did and you should expect half of that. 

The SLC43 AMG is almost the perfect everyday sports car. The fact that it can drop the top on demand is the proverbial cherry on the cake in my books. Yes, I do wish the interiors looked better and clutter free, but other than that, there's practically nothing I would change. At Rs 77.5 lakh, it is significantly cheaper compared to the old SLK55 by a nearly half a crore. Has it lost fifty lakhs worth of soul? Absolutely not. The best bit about the car is that it makes you want to drive it over and over again. Not all cars, big or small can pull this off. And when they do, you know they are worth their salt. Or in this case, the AMG badge.