Mercedes-Benz has introduced the option of four-wheel-drive across its C-Class range for the first time, along with a new C 43 flagship engine.

C 200, C 220d and C 250 d derivatives of the premium German offering are all now available with 4MATIC four-wheel-drive with the Mercedes-AMG C 43 4MATIC now available to order in Saloon and Estate guise, adding to the recently introduced Coupé model.

Prices begin at £44,460 for the Saloon.

The Mercedes-AMG C 43 comes with a turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine producing 362bhp.

In saloon and coupe form that translates into a 4.7 second sprint to 62mph, with the Estate taking 4.9 seconds.

All C 43 models come with a 9G-TRONIC automatic transmission – with shortened shift times – as standard.

Standard equipment on the C 43 includes: ARTICO leather and DINAMICA microfibre upholstery with red contrast stitching; 18-inch alloy wheels in black; black exterior mirror housings; and silver-painted brake calipers with ‘AMG’ lettering.

Specific options for the C43 include AMG Performance Seats (£1,405) and the AMG Performance Exhaust System (£1,000).

Other Mercedes-Benz C-Class’ equipped with 4MATIC all-wheel-drive are priced at £1,500 over their rear-wheel-drive equivalents, meaning the C 220 d Sport 4MATIC Saloon starts at £36,025 and the C 220 d Sport 4MATIC Estate at £37,225.

Mercedes-Benz has also introduced a new model line to the C-Class family – the SE Executive Edition.

Available on both the Saloon and Estate, it is priced at £1,295 more than the SE and includes 17-inch alloy wheels; Active Parking Assist including PARKTRONIC; chrome roof rails (Estate only); Garmin Map Pilot navigation system; heated front seats; and split folding rear seats in 40:20:40 formation.