RE: AMG A-Class: First details of A45 AMG revealed

[Gridl0k]

pSyCoSiS said:

Still, impressive power outputs.

Well, HPE currently make a 2.4 V8 that produces north of 750bhp, developed a 1.6 I4 hybrid producing similar output and currently have a V6 turbo in the works that should be pretty sweet..

They also did some good work under their former name, Ilmor, as I understand

[CraigyMc]

Gridl0k said:

pSyCoSiS said:

Still, impressive power outputs.

Well, HPE currently make a 2.4 V8 that produces north of 750bhp, developed a 1.6 I4 hybrid producing similar output and currently have a V6 turbo in the works that should be pretty sweet..

They also did some good work under their former name, Ilmor, as I understand

It's a little trikcy to start any of those from cold, and the maintenance regime goes somewhat beyond "change the oil every 10000 miles".

C

[bobberz]

grammalta said:

in my opinion... 330BHP, 4wd, 2.0T 4pot.... its an Impreza STI, but poshier and if its better than a go kart, has a better interior than the STI. =) .. not so sure about the exterior design though...

Well, it'll look better than the STi! Imprezas have always been ugly buggers, especially the current one, but I have massive respect for their capability, and they sound pretty cool, as well.

[GTRene]

seen this? looks good and what they say also...

said:

We get an exclusive first ride in a prototype of the 350bhp Mercedes A-Class, ahead of its launch next summer

"It might have four-wheel drive, but you can still get it sideways," Tobias Moers explains calmly, holding a big drift around a long right-hander. "You just need to flick it, Ari Vatanen-style."

It turns out that the boss of product development at AMG isn't just a talented engineer - he's handy behind the wheel, too. But then the car he's driving us around in today, on road and track, is rather special.

The A45 AMG represents Mercedes’ first move into the hot hatch market, and uses a hand-built 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine driving all four wheels. Producing around 350bhp and 450Nm of torque (the highest specific output of any road car), it’s expected to cover 0-62mph in 4.5 seconds, enough to comfortably outgun rivals like the 335bhp Audi RS3 and 316bhp BMW M135i. It will cost just less than £40,000 when it goes on sale next summer

more here>>

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/mercedes/a-class/6112...

the sound is also promising...

said:

The way this car sounds is definitely SLS-esque. As the revs rise there’s a smooth induction note, with none of the drone normally associated with four-cylinder engines, followed by a burst of pops and crackles every time Moers lifts off the throttle. It can’t match the SLS for drama, but it’s definitely the best-sounding 2.0-litre unit we’ve ever laid ears on.

also this, audi could learn some>>

said:

On track, though, the pay-off for a little discomfort is clear – no matter how much speed Moers carries into a corner the car refuses to understeer and feels perfectly balanced, there was even a hint of four-wheel drift on the exits in true rally car-style

[Dave Hedgehog]

i asked merc UK about this a couple of days ago, no info and they don't even have an interest list yet >.<

Edited by Dave Hedgehog on Wednesday 31st October 20:31

[GTRene]

Strange...at the beginning next year its on the list and it sounds like a real "hot"hatch to me.

[Dave Hedgehog]

GTRene said:

Strange...at the beginning next year its on the list and it sounds like a real "hot"hatch to me.

Dear Mr Hedgehog

Mercedes-Benz Model: A-Class

Thank you for your recent email communication received by the Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance Center Maastricht N.V.

Unfortunately we do not have any information regarding the new A-Class A25 AMG at this time. We are advised that information won't be available until closer to the launch of the vehicle next year. As soon as details are available you will find it on our website at www.mercedes-benz.co.uk.

Should you have any further requirements please do not hesitate to contact us.


Yours sincerely

Hazel Pritchard
Customer Service Representative
Customer Service
Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance Center Maastricht N.V.
Gelissendomein 5
NL-6229 GK Maastricht, the Netherlands

Phone No:
00800 9 777 7777 (international freephone)
0207 660 9993 (charged at national rate)

[GTRene]

its possible they are not such petrol heads...

those things you also see by some BMW dealerships when you ask about some new M car that is not in their showroom yet, although lots of news already in the news and they should know...

they mostly not real petrol heads for such sort more low volume cars (sadly)

maybe by the end of the year more news will pop up, for now its only this for the A45 AMG

said:

We’ll get our first chance to see the finished car at the Geneva Motor Show in March, and will drive it soon after. Based on these first impressions, though, the signs are very good indeed.

[Crafty_]

Dave Hedgehog said:

<snip>

Unfortunately we do not have any information regarding the new A-Class A25 AMG at this time. We are advised that information won't be available until closer to the launch of the vehicle next year. As soon as details are available you will find it on our website at www.mercedes-benz.co.uk.

<snip>

A25 ?

Price on this thing keeps going up, early announcements said £32k, then 35k, now 40k..

Not sure about that yellow but I like the car. Out of my price range though!

[FastNReliable]

I like 350bhp from a 2 litre, that sounds pretty interesting. However given the choice I'd rather listen to a inline 6 than an inline 4. But the styling, urgh, if ever a design was trying too hard then this is it. Dunno where Merc are going with this horrid swedge line thing they insist on having on the new models but I wish they'd stop it.

Edited by FastNReliable on Wednesday 31st October 22:38

[Dagnut]

Grovsie26 said:

How much turbo lag will this have?

5.2 Nl/XT

[Johnnytheboy]

Crafty_ said:

A25 ?

Price on this thing keeps going up, early announcements said £32k, then 35k, now 40k..

Not sure about that yellow but I like the car. Out of my price range though!

£10k better than an M135i?

[Dave Hedgehog]

Johnnytheboy said:

Crafty_ said:

A25 ?

Price on this thing keeps going up, early announcements said £32k, then 35k, now 40k..

Not sure about that yellow but I like the car. Out of my price range though!

£10k better than an M135i?

135 is 39k with the bits i have to have

[mat205125]

Dave Hedgehog said:

135 is 39k with the bits i have to have

What is so "essential" that you've got to add on £9k to the list price?

[Dave Hedgehog]

mat205125 said:

Dave Hedgehog said:

135 is 39k with the bits i have to have

What is so "essential" that you've got to add on £9k to the list price?

you buy the cars you want, ill spec and buy the ones i want

i bet this merc is 45-48 when i am done with the extras if the start price is 40k as speculated

[Johnnytheboy]

Dave Hedgehog said:

mat205125 said:

Dave Hedgehog said:

135 is 39k with the bits i have to have

What is so "essential" that you've got to add on £9k to the list price?

you buy the cars you want, ill spec and buy the ones i want

i bet this merc is 45-48 when i am done with the extras if the start price is 40k as speculated

Well quite. I imagine the price differential will be the same for similarly specced cars.

I was hanging on to see what this A45 was like before plumping for a M135i, but it's clearly going to be out of my price range.

[deltashad]

Dave Hedgehog said:

mat205125 said:

Dave Hedgehog said:

135 is 39k with the bits i have to have

What is so "essential" that you've got to add on £9k to the list price?

you buy the cars you want, ill spec and buy the ones i want

i bet this merc is 45-48 when i am done with the extras if the start price is 40k as speculated

I like the way they aren't loading these cars extra's. Keep the prices low to get the most out of the car. (Keep the bloating weight down too).

"but as Audi has proved with the RS3, looks can carry you a long way in the market place"...... I think they look positively dull. As was said at the bieginning of the thread the Mercedes looks Korean, which was the first thing I thought when I saw it.
The BMW, although growing on me, I still think is a princess Fiona.

They are three munters but all of them will be good in bed.

[Guvernator]

These days it's very easy to add £5k onto the base spec of a car without even trying. Sat Nav, some decent alloy wheels and metallic paint will probably take you to that figure already. Are they essential? Probably not in terms of actually getting a car to move but as things that make the whole ownership experience far more pleasurable, the car easier to live with and certainly come resale time absolutely.

Do I agree that they charge so much for these options, definitely not, I think especially on the top end\premium models you should get most of it thrown in for the price of the basic car.

[kambites]

Guvernator said:

Do I agree that they charge so much for these options, definitely not, I think especially on the top end\premium models you should get most of it thrown in for the price of the basic car.

Now you see I'd rather they weren't because that would just push up the cost of the base model and I don't want things like built in sat-nav.

[Crafty_]

The COMAND system on an A class is £2k, so I can see how the costs would mount up.

I wonder what residuals will end up like, seems C63s lose about 30% in 2 years, the same rate would put the A45 in the mid twenties.. hmm..

The AMG Sport is 28k list - I have trouble seeing 12k difference..