Mercedes AMG A45 gets faster and louder
Facelift time already for the A Class, including even more power for the A45
Latest: read our review of the facelifted Mercedes-AMG A45
Much is as expected: greener, more purposeful design, yadda. Which is why we'll concentrate on the range-topping A45 AMG which has now become - in terms of power output - the hottest hot hatch.
The 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine has been turned up to deliver 381hp - a 26hp increase on before. Despite that relatively modest gain Mercedes claims a 4.2-sec 0-62mph time, 0.4-sec better than the previous car, although its worth mentioning in performance testing the first A45 always proved itself a fair bit quicker than its official numbers. The ratios of the double clutch gearbox have been tightened up from third gear upwards to help keep everything on the boil at higher speeds too.
There's also now the option of a Dynamic Plus pack which adds a mechanical locking limited-slip differential at the front and two-stage adaptive damping. As with other AMG products there is now a five position dynamic mode selection system allowing you to cycle between Comfort, Eco, Sport, Individual and Race, the last of which, we're told, is now set up to allow the A45 "wider drift angles." Quite.
The '45 also gets its name rejigged according to Merc's recent new naming policy, and is now officially the Mercedes-AMG A45 4Matic. Trips off the tongue, doesn't it? Further down the range Merc has also got rid of the old CDI branding for diesels, replacing it with a simple 'd' - i.e. A200d - that will trigger '80s flashbacks among anyone old enough to remember the dawn of compression ignition for passenger cars.
There's also more emphasis on connectivity, with better integration for smartphones. More active safety features now come as standard, including what the official release describes in caps as COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS - for those owners who need help not to repeatedly collide with things, and LED headlights are now an option on all the range and standard on the A45.
We'll have to wait for pricing details, though.
Great power increase and puts the RS3 firmly in its place.
I'm still far from convinced with the interior, but I do like the interior.
Wheels are a great improvement, but I too find the price a bit too rich. I also looked at one to replace my C63, but at the time it was £50k for a decently specced A45 which was 'only' £7k cheaper than a C63 and has less kit in it!!!
I'm not seeing too many 45's on the road due to the very few deals (PCP and lease). I expect MB were completely aware of the sales potential and have kept production in-line with those forecasts. BMW on the other hand massively discount the M135i so it's no surprise people are choosing that or the Golf R.
I think the A45 is much better car than both the R and the M135i, but money talks!
I think the A45 is much better car than both the R and the M135i, but money talks!
But Mercedes always refused to do any deals on it, be it PCP or cash, and that's why they haven't sold half as many as the competition.
I thought the previous model looked purposeful but this is a touch too chav. I mean it makes a VXR look tasteful.
almost 400 Bhp on tap, sub 4.5 0-60 and it looks like it's crashed through Halfords.
looking forward to laughing about the "price as tested" figures....
Drag race between this and the CL65 AMG V12.
The A45 was faster until they hit triple figures, the the V12 started to gain, fairly quickly but by then the race was over....the A45 won.
Very impressive, it did have launch control which the CL does not have!
Iceboy
I think the A45 is much better car than both the R and the M135i, but money talks!
But Mercedes always refused to do any deals on it, be it PCP or cash, and that's why they haven't sold half as many as the competition.
I see 2015 models in the classifieds at £38-39k with a few options though. Someone somewhere is getting a 'deal' on these....
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/m...
The C63 are only cheaper because it's the old model, the newer one's start higher. The C63 is also heavier and arguably slower in the real world.
Only one way to sort this out...
RACE! RACE! RACE!
I've always been a big fan of these but always found it hard to spot the differences of one of these to say an A220 AMG Sport, which when you're spending the best part of £40k for a range-topping AMG car, you want it to look and feel a bit more special than your regular company car.
It's a very attractive package (Immense performance with real world pace,practicality and usability)and I for one would definitely have one of these over an RS3, which having seen one at the weekend, was thoroughly underwhelmed by.
I thought the previous model looked purposeful but this is a touch too chav. I mean it makes a VXR look tasteful.
almost 400 Bhp on tap, sub 4.5 0-60 and it looks like it's crashed through Halfords.
looking forward to laughing about the "price as tested" figures....
Shame as my dad had a few Mercs when I was a kid and they used to look great.
I blame China.
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