It looks as though Mercedes-Benz plans to take the battle for hyper-hatch bragging rights to the next level with the second-generation Mercedes-AMG A45, which is due to launch in 2019.
According to Autocar sources, the new A45 4Matic will boast close to 300 kW from a further-tweaked version of the brand’s already potent 2,0-litre turbocharged petrol four-pot.
The current A45 (pictured above), which itself gained a hike to 280 kW during a recent facelift, makes a smidgen more power than rivals such as the five-pot Audi RS3 and inline-six BMW M2, despite employing fewer cylinders. But the Stuttgart-based automaker clearly has plans to stay ahead in the power game.
Autocar sources suggest the extra oomph in the 2019 version will come courtesy of reworked fuel injectors, an updated turbocharger and “subtle revisions to the combustion process”. And all of this – together with the all-wheel drive system and possibly a new dual-clutch transmission – could see the obligatory zero to 100 km/h sprint time fall below 4,0 seconds.
The British publication also claims that the automaker plans to create a “second-tier”, lower-powered Mercedes-AMG A-Class variant, apparently taking aim at the Volkswagen Golf GTI.
