Thanks to local assembly, 367hp performance coupe from leading luxury nameplate now costs 4.14 million baht.
After making locally assembled versions of the Mercedes-Benz C250 Coupe available last year, the Thai Mercedes office has added an AMG variant to the list of models built in the country.
Company executives said this is the first time a performance-oriented Mercedes has rolled off Thai production lines putting some kind of pressure on all of its key rivals from Audi, BMW and Lexus.
Initially, the Mercedes-AMG C43 Coupe came as a completely built-up import from Germany last year costing 5.19 million baht. In Thai-finished form, the C43 Coupe is priced at 4.14 million baht.
Designed to sit below the range-topping C63 Coupe, which is sold as an import in Thailand at some 10 million baht, the C43 Coupe is being described by executives as “great value for money” considering its available performance.
The C43 Coupe comes with 367hp 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6, nine-speed automatic and 4Matic all-wheel-drive. Its most direct rival, the 354hp Audi S5, is not sold officially in Thailand.
The most Audi and BMW have to offer with their mid-size coupes in the country are the 45 TFSI Quattro S Line and 430i M Sport. Both come with a 252hp 2.0-litre petrol-turbo engine costing 3.799 and 3.729 million baht accordingly.
The Lexus RX200t, meanwhile, is powered by a 245hp 2.0-litre petrol-turbo motor priced from 5.665 million baht.
