RE: Official: Mercedes A45 AMG

[GAjon]

I like this, but its going to be expensive.

If only Mazda would do the 3MPS with the 6MPS AWD system?

[stuckmojo]

Aside from the fact that I find it horrible to look at, is this where Mercedes is going?

In fact, this seems to reflect a wider behaviour in the car industry, the one for which every single niche needs to be filled with a product.

Is the new business model based on "cradle to grave"/continual financialisation of customers?

IF I were in the market for something similar the M135i would be way ahead of this as a potential.

[P4ROT]

Ali_T said:

So, 8 years after the Evo X, you can now buy a German hatch with a much more primitive AWD system ? Do they want us to be impressed by the whopping 50% that can be directed to the rear?

I agree. Also I know the FQ400 needs a lot of maintenance, but surely it counts as production car with more power?

[Cheib]

Hmmm...le wrong prix I suspect. Seen a few of these A classes around now...it looks VERY nose heavy. Those front wheels are virtually in the doors.

[Oz83]

Seat Leon meets CLS AMG?

[redroadster]

Fantastic interior, this will be a great daily driver , again even though nobody has driven it the doom merchants are talking it down, i owned the last focus rs and in the wet it was let down with traction for its power this wont have the same problem.

[Hellbound]

AutoCar and AutoExpress >cough< reckon on a starting figure of £36k.

Strong interior and rear, but the front end just doesn't sit well with me. Grey or Black are best imo.

[goron59]

I really can't warm to Mercedes, but looks decent. Would take M135i instead though or the new S3 for decent traction in bad weather/bad road (ie UK).

[Tuvra]

greggy50 said:

Going to guess with a decent spec this will be nearly 50k and retail stock for about 42k

Does look nice but can't see it being anywhere near the bargain that is the 135i price wise...

Look at the A45 and then look at the 135, the 135 may be a bargain, it is an absolute munter though.

I love this car!

[GroundEffect]

Haldex 4WD?

Likely to be an understeering mess like the S3/RS3

[Hellbound]

Tuvra said:

Look at the A45 and then look at the 135, the 135 may be a bargain, it is an absolute munter though.

I love this car!

Apparently the leather is 'faux-leather' (again according to AutoExpress). I'd expect actual cow hide in a £36k car!

But then you do get a full digital gauges, which you don't in the BMW.

Edited by Hellbound on Wednesday 13th February 08:39

[anonymous-user]

GroundEffect said:

Haldex 4WD?

Likely to be an understeering mess like the S3/RS3

Latest Haldex is supposed to be a lot better

[Dazed & Confused]

breadvan said:

Surprised it's quicker than the C63

Is it? From what I can tell it's as quick as the stock C63, and slower than the C63 Performance Package.

And who cares how fast it is anyway, when it sounds like it does!

[loudlashadjuster]

Colour me interested. Needs to avoid the Audi trap of dull, understeer-y nonsense mind. Confidence should be high though as when have AMG ever released a total duffer?

Could be on the shopping list in 2½ years.

[lankybob]

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear...


I like it.

[V8RX7]

Haldex...

I lost interest at that point.

If it had been a proper rear biased 4WD it could have been great.

[va1o]

Looks good to me, makes the AMG brand more accessible and doesn't appear to have any compromises. Have a feeling it will be a fair bit more expensive than the M135i and S3 though

[rainmasterb]

I was at AMG yesterday. They are very proud of this car. Apparently it sounds very much like a beefy sports bike, which is intriguing! Can't wait for a drive, looks great and the seats look fantastic. Certainly from an aesthetic point of view, 1-series cannot hold a candle to this!

[richb77]

4 cyl for me is slightly disappointing but i would take one (even with the suspected price gap) over the M135i every single time.

Why....

because it seems EVERYONE else out there would take the BMW and one of the reasons for buying such a car is to stand out from the crowd even if its just a little bit.

[DiscoColin]

Hellbound said:

AutoCar and AutoExpress >cough< reckon on a starting figure of £36k.

Sounds more like optimism than anything else. A cursory glance at the Merc site indicates that an FWD A250 is almost £29k before options. I don't imagine any of these leaving a forecourt before a number starting with a 4 has been paid, and I suspect that there will be an options list to put it easily into the 50s...

Also a bit chintzy naming cars after A roads when the competition names theirs after motorways too...