C-class Cabriolet
Mirroring its sedan sibling, exterior changes for the cabriolet consists of new head and taillights with full LEDs as well as multi-beams optional, reshaped front and rear bumpers and depending on the selected trim level, a bespoke grille, side sills and trim pieces.
Aside from the usual selection of materials such as wood, leather and aluminium, the cabriolet's interior takes after that of the S-class with the same touchpad-like steering wheel switches, new centre console, optional fully digital instrument cluster with three display styles (Classic, Sport and Progressive) and a choice of four infotainment systems; the standard 5.5-inch, a seven-inch, 10.24-inch or the full 12.3-inch digital setup.
Safety tech has also been stepped up and now includes items, either standard or optional, such as Active Brake Assist, a new front camera and radar system able to see 500 m ahead, Active Distance Control Distronic, Active Steering Assist, Active Lane Change Assist and Active Emergency Stop.
Power-wise, the cabriolet will initially be powered by two four-cylinder turbocharged engines, of which the petrol option becomes to first to feature the EQ Boost+ mild hybrid setup.
Incorporating a 48-volt electric motor derived from the 53 range of models, the unit in the C200 and C200 4Matic displaces 1.5-litres and produces 135 kW, with an additional 10 kW being made available by the EQ Boost+ system for short periods. A more powerful 2.0-litre model will be added at a later stage.
The sole other engine is the new 2.0-litre turbodiesel in the C220d, that weighs in at 16% less than before and which produces 143 kW. Unlike the C200 though, the diesel will only be offered with rear-wheel drive.
No pricing or local availability of the C-class Cabriolet has yet been made.
AMG C43
Following on from the sedan launched earlier this month, Mercedes-AMG has now applied the same exterior and interior touches to the coupe and cabriolet, with the biggest update being a hike in both power and torque.
Externally, the changes include a new AMG specific grille in matt iridium silver, the same head and taillights as the standard C-class, a new rear apron, newly designed AMG light alloy wheels and two optional packages with its own array of trim pieces, the blacked-out Night Package and aptly named Carbon Fibre II Package.
Inside, the C43 builds on the standard C-class' additions, but with Artico man-made leather and Dinamica micro-fibre trim being the standard upholstery choice. Completing the interior are aluminium pedals, red stitching, AMG Performance sport steering wheel, piano black lacquer trim, a black roof liner, red seatbelts and from the options list, heated and ventilated AMG Performance seats with integrated air-cushions. The neck-warming Airscarf can meanwhile be had as an option on the cabriolet.
As mentioned though, the C43's biggest gain is underneath the bonnet where the 3.0-litre bi-turbo V6 now produces 287 kW, 17 kW up, and 520 Nm of torque, which allows for a limited top speed of 250 km/h and 0-100 km/h in 4.7 seconds for the coupe with the cabriolet dispatching the benchmark sprint in 4.8 seconds.
Kept unchanged is the nine-speed MCT transmission and performance optimised 4Matic all-wheel drive system, but not so is the AMG Dynamic Select system which now boasts a Slippery mode in addition to the carryover Comfort, Sport, Sport+, Individual and Manual modes.
Like the cabriolet though, no pricing for the C43 has yet been announced.
