Mercedes-Benz Bids Farewell to C43 AMG
30 December 1999
Mercedes-Benz Bids Farewell to C43 AMG; Super Sedan Ends Three-Year Production Run in 2000MONTVALE, N.J., Dec. 30 -- What began in 1998 as a very exclusive, high-performance C-Class sedan has come to an end this model year. The Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG -- the second of Mercedes-Benz' extreme performance automobiles offered in the U.S. -- closes out its production cycle after three model years and 1,400 examples of the well-rounded enthusiast's sedan. "The C43 AMG marked the start of a wave of extreme performance automobiles we plan to offer American clients," notes Robert Allan, Mercedes-Benz USA AMG / designo / Special Vehicles Product Manager. "This was the first compact car with our new-generation, three-valve/twin-spark V8. At 302 horsepower, it offered very high power output, and our clients took that element very close to their hearts. In fact, the AMG-modified engine was what owners loved the most, since it combined that high performance with the expected refinement of a Mercedes-Benz." Indeed, powerful engines are just one element of any Mercedes-AMG automobile. There are six specific themes to every AMG product: handling ability, braking, acceleration, luxury, exclusivity and practicality. All are equally important, but perhaps the latter is most significant. Mercedes-AMG cars make no special demands of owners, and require no special concessions as a result of their high-performance capabilities. In addition, every Mercedes-AMG displays understated, yet athletic styling enhancements. The town of Affalterbach, just outside Stuttgart, is home to the Mercedes-AMG facility. Engines are hand-assembled on-site and partial construction of whole AMG models takes place with a workforce of about 400. The Mercedes-AMG partnership officially started with the C36 AMG sedan for 1995, which offered 268 horsepower from a 3.6-liter six-cylinder engine, and has grown to encompass three models for the U.S. market-C43, E55 and ML55 AMG.