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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 2000

    MONTVALE, 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.