The 2026 Mercedes-AMG C43 4MATIC Edition R+ limited edition has arrived in Australia priced at $121,500 before on-road costs, making it $4200 more affordable than the standard C43 sedan despite the fact it brings more equipment.

The Edition R and Edition R+ packages have already been offered on Mercedes-Benz models here, including the A-Class, CLA and GLE 53, bringing styling and equipment upgrades to their donor models.

The 2024 C43 Edition R (without the plus) was priced at $112,600 before on-roads, as an alternative to the Audi S5 (currently priced from $114,900 plus ORCs) and BMW M340i xDrive ($118,500 plus ORCs) sedans, with the C43 sitting below the flagship Mercedes-AMG C63 mid-size sports sedan.

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Mercedes-Benz Australia won’t reveal how many C43 Edition R+ vehicles will be offered locally, simply saying it’s a limited-run model variant that builds on the 2024 Edition R’s standard specification.

Among the upgrades, the Edition R+ brings an AMG styling kit – consisting of front and rear bumpers plus side skirts – to the warmed-up sedan for the first time.

This includes a high-gloss black splitter in the lower front bumper and ‘flics’ around the air ducts, while the rear bumper features a high-gloss black diffuser and more ‘flics’, capped with a larger boot lid spoiler in high-gloss black.

The Edition R+ runs the same 20-inch alloy wheels as the standard C43, finished in a 10-twin-spoke design in matte-black with a high-sheen finish, along with red brake calipers as part of the AMG Exterior Night Package and Night Package II.

It also inherits AMG Ride Control suspension from the standard C43, but there are no further mechanical changes.

That means there’s the same 310kW/500Nm 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with 48-volt mild-hybrid assistance, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.

Inside, AMG Performance front seats headline the interior changes, trimmed in a combination of Artico artificial leather and Nappa leather with ‘AMG’ backrest logos, red stitching and matte-black trim details.

The seats are power-adjustable and offer larger bolsters for improved lateral support, as well as heating and memory functions.

The rest remains unchanged from the standard C43 – including the 11.9-inch infotainment touchscreen, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, head-up display, wireless phone charging, Burmester audio system, and panoramic sliding sunroof.

Mercedes-Benz pulled the covers off its first electric C-Class last month, which is scheduled to arrive in Australia in the first half of 2027 with up to 800km of driving range.

It will rival the BMW i3 electric sedan, which BMW Australia says will be launched in early 2027.

Before the i3 and C-Class EVs arrive, the all-electric Mercedes-Benz GLC mid-size SUV – which is based on the same underpinnings as the latter – is due in Australian showrooms by the end of 2026.

It was revealed at the Munich motor show last September, within hours of BMW unveiling its direct rival and first new-generation ‘Neue Klasse’ model – the iX3 electric SUV, which is due to arrive here in mid-2026.

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