RE: Official: Mercedes A45 AMG

[Amirhussain]

DonkeyApple said:

Amirhussain said:

Pretty aggressive looking thing, bet the M135i will piss all over it though.

If current form stands then the Beemer is going to be the quicker A to B car. I think AMG normally scors over the thrill of the drive from being a bit more raw.
.

This is what I meant, should have worded it better, my bad.

[DonkeyApple]

///Mike said:

Babw said:

Another case of lost identity for a big manufacturer in search of more sales.

Erm.....its a business and sales are key to any business.

Creating a brand with a following of appreciating petrol heads is a microscopic cherry on the top for Mercedes. Sales come first even if it is pushing pointless products, if there is a market for them then they should make it. Lots of sales of things we are not particularly intereted in allows them produce a very small number of things that we are interested in every once in a while.

Indeed. I've always liked what AMG stood for and owning one has always had a residual appeal. However, the third car needs to be more orientated towards a practical runabout so the new M135i and this AMG A45 are extremely appealing to me as a result.

The only issue is likely to be if the price once all specced up is high enough that I say sod it and go for a Cayenne S diesel instead. The price of the M135i is extremely appealing for what you get all packaged up as a runabout.

[jimjim150]

Brutal Power figures, brilliant looking interior. Looks to be a great hot hatch!

[siony1974]

I've test driven the 250 AMG version and it's actually quite nice. THE A45 looks the business and should go like it.
My only reservation is STILL the unforgivable, lazy, after market, stuck on with bluetac look of the INFO/SATNAV module. It spoils the entire flow of the dashboard.

It looks neither funky or groovy . Is there another £35k+ car that has anything so hideous? I can't believe they couldn't get it to flip out or recess it into the dashboard a bit better.

[loudlashadjuster]

siony1974 said:

I've test driven the 250 AMG version and it's actually quite nice. THE A45 looks the business and should go like it.
My only reservation is STILL the unforgivable, lazy, after market, stuck on with bluetac look of the INFO/SATNAV module. It spoils the entire flow of the dashboard.

It looks neither funky or groovy . Is there another £35k+ car that has anything so hideous? I can't believe they couldn't get it to flip out or recess it into the dashboard a bit better.

Didn't spot that. Unforgivable.

After having a VW Up for only a matter of days I can confirm that these 'stick on' nav units are a royal PITA and would put me off the A-Class completely.

Maybe they'll sort it in the mid-life facelift like they did with the C-Class?

[BobbyK]

Why is it necessary in the majority of MB, specifically AMG, promo/release videos to have so many sped-up tracking shots, completely devalues the image of a fast car. Also the addition of the German PR team's amateur attempt of a dubstep soundtrack will never position this car to the yoofs of today. It's an AMG, lets hear the noise, see smoking tyres and a crying fuel card.

[loudlashadjuster]

Re the vid/price update.

Good news about the potential price though, might just put it in the 'under £400 a month' WAF bracket for us never-never types

Edit: Just watched it again, this time with sound. What on earth are they thinking about?!

It's like Jive Bunny does Skrillex.

Edited by loudlashadjuster on Wednesday 13th February 15:48

[YorkshireAndy]

I will definitely be test driving this when my Audi S3 is due to be changed.

[k-ink]

Looks like a Vauxhall Astra!

[stuart-b]

Actually looks very much like the Polestar Volvo. This is what Volvo should have made!

[marksmith59]

Looks awful IMO , heavy looks,heavy weight,heavy hitter .
ISOFIX in the rear for adults?

[Babw]

///Mike said:

Erm.....its a business and sales are key to any business.

Creating a brand with a following of appreciating petrol heads is a microscopic cherry on the top for Mercedes. Sales come first even if it is pushing pointless products, if there is a market for them then they should make it. Lots of sales of things we are not particularly intereted in allows them produce a very small number of things that we are interested in every once in a while.

Well you have taken what I said out of context but this car isn't exactly a housewife shopping trolley is it? I would say that the car was categorically aimed at the petrol heads but instead of making it a simple mini sledgehammer like AMG used to, they've produced a tickbox exercise with all the "must have" gadgets. Carbon fibre interior, harness slots for the seats? No one can guess the dynamics but I'd bet that it's full of understeer, heavy and numb.

All it needs a Nurburgring time.

[Hellbound]

A45 + Performance Package = 400hp.
Limited Edition with flared front arches, CF roof, CF bonnet, mechanical LSD. Available in Matte grey or black.

That's my prediction anyway!

[Walter Sobchak]

So nearly £50k by the time you've specced it up on one of these or, option 2:

Buy a year old E63 for the same money, remap it and have 670 ish BHP.

I do like the A45 but I would never buy one.

[NGK210]

Impressive specs but... just watched the 'teatime vid' - yeesh, that front-end is munting fugly, why does the bonnet have to be sooo bulbous??

Cabin looks borderline chintzy - suspect that's not real carbonfibre?

Bet it'll be great to drive, though, and will nudge 40mpg on a long-run.

Shame there'll inevitably be loads in either de rigueur white or black, with 20in chromed rims and tinted windows, parked outside Middle East and LA high schools - and Cheshire hair salons

[oojonoo]

"Right, thats the A-CLass finished lads..."

"sh!t.. where's the multi media screen...???"

"f@@k it - just stick it there..."

[gumsie]

n4aat said:

So fundamentally flawed it is unreal.

M135i every time.

6 pages and everybody else seems to have ignored this comment so I'll assume there's little substance to it. I am interested to know what makes you think that though.

[trando]

Nah. Don't like it at all. Not nearly bonkers enough for an AMG. Brand successfully diluted I reckon...

[Jellymonster]

il sole said:

Jellymonster said:

The front bares a passing resemblance to the C30 polestar... and I think it is an all round better looking car than the 135.

it's funny, the A class looks better on paper, whereas the 1 series looks better in the flesh. I've seen loads of AMG kitted sport spec a classes near me and they're not a pretty sight. Striking, yes, good looking, no. I'm not going to lie and say the 1 series is a looker, but in estoril blue, the M135i looks very good indeed...

I'll have to have a gander at them both in the flesh... although the front end of most 1 series beemers I have seen, are a tad bulbus.

[Escort3500]

Don't normally like the look of Mercs, but this is very nice indeed.