It was only a matter of time before it had to happen and now it finally did: the Mercedes-AMG A45 is again the most powerful hot hatch on the market. Well, technically, when the 2016 update arrives.
A 2-litre turbocharged engine developing 265 kW and 450 N.m never really meant that A45 would be slow. In fact, thanks to the added benefit of all-wheel drive the A45 dispatched the 0 – 100 km/h sprint in 4,6 seconds onto a (limited) top speed of 250 km/h. But it all meant that this Merc would be a target for all its competitors.
Audi overshadowed the Mercedes-AMG A45’s power figures with their hot RS3, and although that car made use of a 2,5-litre turbocharged five-cylinder engine, the fact that their engine suddenly became “mundane” didn’t sit well with the Three Pointed Star.
“We never rest on our laurels, but constantly strive to develop our products further,” said Tobias Moers, Chairman of Mercedes-AMG GmbH. “The A 45 still had so much improvement potential that we felt compelled to realise it to the full. Our brand claim simply obliges us to.”
The engineers over at AMG fettled with the A45’s 2-litre motor and got a few more horses from it. Power is now rated at 282 Kw and 475 N.m. This is an increase of 17 kW and 25 N.m over the current power rating.
Chilling, though, is the fact that the 0 – 100 km/h sprint is taken care off in 4,2 seconds. 0,4 seconds faster than the outgoing A45 and, crucially, 0,1 seconds faster than the Audi RS3.
Despite the increase in power, the A45 retains the fuel return figures of the previous model: 6,9L/100 km/ and 162 g/CO2 per km. The seven-speed dual-clutch transmission also underwent some revision, and a new AMG Dynamic Plus package has been added that provides more traction.
The car will come equipped with Dynamic Select, that allows the driver to toggle between four driving modes: “Comfort”, “Sport”, “Sport+”, and “Individual”. The latter setting allows the driver to set up the car’s characteristics according to his or her preferences.
A new front bumper with front skirts, a revised rear bumper with four vertical fins, and a new roof spoiler form part of the update. New LED headlamps are also included
On a side note, Mercedes-Benz is reportedly working on an even hotter “S” version of the A45 with a power output of 296 kW. Though it is not official and somewhat unconfirmed, there might be some truth to the story.
