Hotshots compensate for cylinder count reduction with extra grunt.

FOUR for phwoar is how it goes in the new world in which downsizing for Greener good is all the go, and Mercedes Benz AMG vows it has delivered accordingly with the hot-rodded editions of its GLC.

Confirmed by local Benz spokespeople as 2024 follow-ups to the recently released ‘mainstream’ GLC300, the new GLC 43 - seen in blue - and GLC 63 (yes, you got it, the metallic grey one) just revealed internationally take the same route as last year’s AMG sedans with the same numerical codes. 

Which means retiring the V6 and V8 petrol engines that respectively featured for a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder with mains-replenished electrified assist.

Sobering news? The brand assures the cars still subscribe to the big bang theory. The new tech, they remind, is fettled from all that Benz has learned from its time in Formula One. 

The GLC 43 4Matic is rated as a 310kW model, plus it makes 500Nm.However, it has a belt-driven starter generator serving as a mild-hybrid setup with a temporary boost of 10kW and 150Nm.

By comparison, the previous car achieved 287kW and 587Nm from its twin turbo 3.0-litre V6.

The GLC 63 S E Performance takes the same base engine as the ’43', but achieves a bigger turbo and also adds an electric motor mounted to the rear axle. This system makes 500kW and 1020Nm of torque. The petrol engine alone generates 545Nm. Compared to the old V8-powered car, there’s an additional 125kW and 320Nm.

Both cars have rear-biased all-wheel drive, a nine-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, an adaptive steel spring suspension, and rear-wheel steering. 

In the case of the flagship, the 6.1-kWh battery pack has enough juice for a purely electric range of 12 kilometres. 

The ’43’ has five driving modes while the more expensive variant has eight. In addition, the 63 has active roll stabilisation instead of rigid anti-roll bars.

But enough of that. What about the 0-100kmh times? Well, whereas the ’43’ will nail 0 to 100kmh in a reasonable 4.8 seconds, the ’63’ is the far more fiery, with a highly gloatworthy 3.4s. Not bad for a car clocking a sniff over 2.3 tonnes.

The GLC 43 runs 19-inch wheels and has 370mm front brake discs with four-piston calipers. The ’63’ has 390mm carbon ceramic discs and six-piston calipers up front.

Common AMG-specific styling features start with a distinct front grille The 63 kicks off with an Edition 1 with exclusive accents, including 21-inch forged wheels with a matte black finish in place of the standard 20s. The limited-run version also comes with an indoor car cover. You can pick the 63 by it having a rear diffuser and its tailpipes - quad trapezoidal on the big boy, whereas they are rounded on the 43.

The interior treatments are performance plush, with an AMG Performance steering wheel as standard, The ’43’ has Nappa leather and Microcut microfibre seat trim whereas the ’63’ goes for the full Nappa.

What other uses await for this new engine has yet to be spelled out, but as well as mounting longitudinally here and in the latest C63 sedan and wagon, it’s also in the SL 43 roadster. In its transverse configuration (M139), it powers AMG's "45" compact cars as well as the recently launched base version of the Lotus Emira.