Mercedes’ stable of AMG performance cars is dominated by rear-wheel drive models, but it appears that the introduction of the A45 AMG will signal a greater number of Affalterbach-fettled machines with power going to all four corners.
In an interview with Friedrich Eichlers, AMG’s head of engines and powertrains, the performance arm of Mercedes is looking to move a considerable number of its offerings to all-wheel drive.
“We will not only have all-wheel drive in the SUVs and the compact cars, we will also have that in the performance sedans,” Eichlers says. The move, says Eichlers, is necessary as not only does the company want to get the power of its V8 engines to the ground better, but its competition is also choosing all-wheel drive to boost their acceleration times.
“It’s absolutely necessary, our competitors have all-wheel drive in the performance segment, so we have to do that too,’ Eichlers says. “If you want to be a member of the club with cars that have 0-100 km/h times of around 3,0 seconds, then you need to have all-wheel-drive for your sports cars.
According to Eichler, AMG models with a torque output in excess of 800 N.m will be in line for all-wheel drive treatment, but rear-wheel drive models will still feature in future AMG models. Eichler admits that rear-wheel drive still holds a great deal of appeal for performance car fans owing to its greater propensity for drift and livelier steering characteristics.
The primary rationale behind the adoption of all-wheel drive is to better transmit the prodigious power and torque generated by the new generation of turbocharged powerplant to the tarmac. It also comes across as a thinly veiled tilt at Audi’s all-wheel drive RS models.
Source: Leftlanenews
