It’s four to the fore, as per the C43 sedan and a price rise to boot.

JUST in case you happen to be the one person in the universe who didn’t already know - the new AMG GLC43 performance model that’s just landed is a familiar story with a plot change.

There’s a new hero, or villain, depending on how you want to read it. 

This being a high-tech four-cylinder engine with Formula One turbo technology, replacing the twin turbo 3.0-litre V6. Same big change that also hit the C43 sedan and coupe last year.

With the smaller capacity, higher energy engine comes pricing revision. 

The SUV shape is a $151,900 car with the coupe type coming for another $6k. The last time the GLC43 V6 was tested, it was a $135,499 set back. The standard latest GLC300 is a $113k buy in SUV.

The 2.0-litre four-cylinder mild-hybrid engine sites in a model that delivers a larger body and longer list of features and technology than the old GLC.

The engine is from the A45 S hot hatch, developing 310kW and 500Nm – 10kW more than the new C43 sedan, and 23kW more (but 20Nm less) than the retired six-cylinder. Don’t bother writing to Stuttgart to complain. They’ve made this decision and are sticking with it.

The 2.0-litre has an electric edge, in being augmented by a 48-volt mild-hybrid system claimed to be capable of adding 10kW/150Nm under hard acceleration, switching off the engine when cruising to 'coast' and save fuel, and restart the engine faster when setting off from a standstill.

The turbocharger has Lewis Hamilton/George Russell cred in that it is derived from Mercedes-AMG's Formula One cars. A compact electric motor spins up the turbo at low revs when exhaust gases alone aren’t enough.

Power is sent to all four wheels through a nine-speed multi-clutch automatic transmission, and a permanent all-wheel-drive system with a 31:69 front-to-rear power split.

Germany cites a 0-100kmh acceleration time of 4.8 seconds. That’s one-tenth of a second quicker than the previous model. Top speed harnesses to 250kmh.

Standard performance features include adaptive suspension, a sports exhaust, five drive modes, four-piston front and single-piston rear brakes, and speed-sensitive steering.

Rear-axle steering is standard here. It turns the rear wheels in the opposite direction to the fronts at low speed, for easier manoeuvring, and in the same direction above 100kmh for improved stability.

The AMG cars have full leather seat trim, AMG exterior and interior design highlights, 20-inch AMG wheels, a Burmester sound system, Digital Light LED adaptive headlights, and augmented-reality satellite navigation.

The ’43’  has traditionally been the intermediate step model, with a GLC63 siting above. However, Benz has indicated it will not continue with that top tier format, which previously ran with a 375kW/700Nm biturbo V8 and was a $184,900 ask.