RE: Official: Mercedes A45 AMG

[Twincam16]

MonkeyMatt said:

Not really a looker is it! I do hope Volvo jump on the hyper hatch bandwagon too and do a more powerful version of the new V40 T-5

IIRC there's a Polestar version on its way.

I'm not overly concerned that this car is 4WD tbh - it's based on the A-class after all - however, I really with Merc would take a look at the BMW 1-series and do a proper successor to the 190 Cosworth. Four-cylinder engine but heavily-tuned, rear-wheel drive, offered with a conventional three-pedal H-pattern gearbox, compact dimensions and properly competitive kerb weight. Everyone acknowledges the 1-series as a kind-of E30 in spirit and the market has responded well to it, but I've yet to see a single new A-class, I suspect because it's stupidly expensive (especially as the Volvo V40 seems to offer much the same kind of car for a lot less).

[///Mike]

rainmasterb said:

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!

In your opinion. Whilst the AMG looks nice with that stance and a those wheels that actual shape of the car is nothing better than what comes out of Korea in my opinion. Unlike the 1 series there isn't even much of a defined bonnet/front end much like the old A class. Basically it looks like a small MPV and thats not a sporty look imo. I don't see the current 1 series as a good looking car either btw but to me it does demonstrate some defining features unlike this. Shame really as I think Merc did an amazing job with the C63, love the look of that car and with a better gearbox and slightly better economy I might have ordered one.

Edited by ///Mike on Wednesday 13th February 09:27

Edited by ///Mike on Wednesday 13th February 09:28

[nick-elise]

I like this, very different to what they have done before, hope its successful! (and depreciates like mad so I can buy one eventually!)

[garypotter]

Great looking car with some impressive figures, who cares what it costs new as owners will never buy the car they will be on a 2/3 yr lease and hand it back, no do7ubt merc will offer some crazy cheap lease deals to get the car on the road, as they did with the c63 amg.

[MyCC]

A pound to a penny it will drive just like the RS3 and be priced the same too. Desperately quick but desperately dull to drive is my estimate.

I do like the look of it however, except for the way the horrible touchscreen is mounted inside, looks like an after thought!

Regards,]

MyCC.

[mikey k]

loudlashadjuster said:

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.

+1 when my current daily is due
Not so sure on the "haldex" based system but them how often do we ACTUALLY need 4WD
I do hope that screen in the middle of the dash hides away when not in use?
ETA look like that screen is in all the models

Edited by mikey k on Wednesday 13th February 09:44

[Bladedancer]

So ugly, so... pointless.
Do pensioner really need to get to the shops that quickly?

[Hoygo]

Amazing,shame from the back it looks identical like a Seat Ibiza/Audi a3/1/Vw polo/Bmw 135i,german hatches are the same from the back it's ridiculous.

[WCZ]

absolutely love it, needs a 3 door version with different wheels though

[iwantagta]

"continuously variable flap"


Giggle.

[Jellymonster]

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

[pSyCoSiS]

They ae some seriously impressive stats.

Fully-specced up they will be well north of £45k, though!

But, an excellent effort and what an output for a 4 pot motor!

[il sole]

Jellymonster said:

The front bares a passing resemblance to the C30 polestar... and I think it is an alround 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...

[Wolands Advocate]

richb77 said:

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.

Err....if you imagine that buying an M135i makes you stand out from the crowd, you're sorely mistaken (unless that crowd has petrol for blood). Provided it's not painted a "look at me!" colour, it blends into the background very effectively for something so potent - most people don't give it a second glance.

Am I alone in not caring greatly for the "my first Mercedes" interior styling? I poked about in one at Goodwood and didn't really like the interior. The new A3's interior is streets ahead in all respects.

[RivieraBlue]

So much more better looking than it's rivals.

[Hoofy]

45? 4.5 litre V8 surely? Cf C63, CLK55, M63, S320, E230... In any case, what does 45 mean? I skimmed the article but didn't notice it.

[Chickentonight]

'AMG isn't daft'

Brain autocorrects: 'AMG is daft and mad'

[neilly500]

40.5 mpg??? they are having a laugh - don't get that from my new cd200i diesel b class merc.........

[anything fast]

most powerful production 4 pot lump in the world that will go on for more than 10 miles without needing a service..

Really?

There are plenty of cars which are 10 years out of date and make even more power and dont blow up every 5 minutes.

I ran a cosworth a while back with 400+ BHP and it did not go pop! I also had a another cossie with nearly as much BHP and it never let me down. I also know a chap with a 53 plate Focus RS with 390 BHP and guess what it has not gone pop either.. I know these are modified cars, but my point is that it really is not hard to get 360 BHP from a turbo 4 pot. And yes mpg blah blah blah but it is 2013 now so what exactly is the big deal, its just another way of skinning a cat, they could have popped in a great big V8, or a supercharged V6, but they have gone done a very un-merc like route which is very cool but no big deal in terms of power.

[anonymous-user]

anything fast said:

most powerful production 4 pot lump in the world that will go on for more than 10 miles without needing a service..

Really?

There are plenty of cars which are 10 years out of date and make even more power and dont blow up every 5 minutes.

I ran a cosworth a while back with 400+ BHP and it did not go pop! I also had a another cossie with nearly as much BHP and it never let me down. I also know a chap with a 53 plate Focus RS with 390 BHP and guess what it has not gone pop either.. I know these are modified cars, but my point is that it really is not hard to get 360 BHP from a turbo 4 pot. And yes mpg blah blah blah but it is 2013 now so what exactly is the big deal, its just another way of skinning a cat, they could have popped in a great big V8, or a supercharged V6, but they have gone done a very un-merc like route which is very cool but no big deal in terms of power.

And non of those are production engines! all are modified