What’s new?
Hot hatches have been around since the 1970s, but MercedesBenz has been a late arrival on the scene, producing the first performancefocused version of its AClass within the past decade. The folk at Stuttgart have been making up for lost time, particularly since 2013, when AMG began producing AClass derivatives like none before.
The first of these AMGfettled machines was the original A45. This ultimate iteration of the previous generation AClass featured fourwheeldrive and 2litre turbo power. The engine’s initial peak outputs of 265kW and 450Nm were raised to 280kW and 475Nm as part of a 2015 midlife upgrade.
That AMG model bowed out in 2018 when production of the third generation AClass ceased. Its initial successor in the fourth generation AClass range was the AMG A35, which stuck with 2litre turbo power, but dialled back the peak outputs to a still formidable 225kW and 400Nm. A new A45 to sit above the A35 was always part of the plan, and it has now been launched in two guises, comprising the ‘‘standard’’ 285kW/480Nm A45, and the 310kW/500Nm A 45S.
Once again, there is 2litre turbo power, but the engine has been significantly redesigned. It’s still mounted transversely but rotated 180 degrees to optimise airflows. Other changes include larger exhaust valves, a higher compression ratio, the use of the same NANOSLIDE cylinder liner coatings found in Mercedes’ Formula One engines, and twostage dual fuel injection.
Then there is the small matter of how this new engine is built; rather than running down a regular production line, the build of each new motor is overseen by one AMG engineer. This approach has been used on highercapacity AMG engines for some time, but not before on a fourcylinder motor.
As for what the AMG A45 S’s 310kW/500Nm engine represents, let’s start with it being the most powerful 2litre engine ever to go into serial production. If you would like a few more performance
Overall: ★★★★+
Design & styling: ★★★★+
Interior: ★★★★★
Performance: ★★★★★
Ride & handling: ★★★★+
Environmental: ★★★
SPECIFICATIONS
Price: $119,780 (as tested).
Engine: 1991cc turbopetrol fourcylinder, max power 310kW, max torque 500Nm.
Transmission: Eightspeed AMG. dual clutch automatic transmission, allwheel drive.
Brakes & stability systems: Front and
rear disc brakes, ABS, ASC, DSC,
benchmarks, this engine produces more power per litre than the engines of supercars such as the Ferrari 488, Porsche 911 GT3 RS, Bugatti Chiron, Aston Martin Valkyrie, and McLaren Senna.
Of course, one doesn’t simply fit this engine into a standard AClass and hope for the best; there’s extra structural reinforcement to improve torsional rigidity, a wider front track (requiring, in turn, flared wheel arches), sports suspension, a highperformance, and massively uprated performance brakes.
Power delivery is via an eightspeed dualclutch transmission and AMG’s 4Matic + allwheeldrive system. In addition to being able to apportion as much as 50% of the engine’s torque to the rear wheels, the system adjusts torque delivery between each rear wheel.
BA, CBC, DTC.
Safety: Fivestar Euro NCAP.
Wheels & tyres: Alloy wheels,
245/40 ZR19 tyres.
Fuel & economy: 98octane unleaded,
8.9 litres/100km, capacity 51 litres.
Emissions: 202g CO /km on
combined cycle.
Dimensions: Length 4439mm,
width 1790mm, height 1400mm.
conventional colour such as white or silver and ignoring the range of appearanceenhancing options, and you’ll be the owner of an absolute wolf in sheep’s clothing and, in terms of performance relative to price, something of a steal at $111,000.
Or you can go all bold, either itembyitem, or by specifying the special AMG Edition 1 pack, as provided on the test car. For $7990, this adds special 19inch alloys, AMG decals, and the attentiongrabbing combination of sun yellow paint and aerodynamic enhancements, the most prominent of which is a large rear wing.