Wednesday 13th June 2012

AMG A-Class: First details of A45 AMG revealed

New Merc super-hatch should be most powerful in its class when it goes on sale next year

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Details of the new AMG version of the Mercedes A-Class - dubbed the A45 AMG - have been dug out by our newshound colleagues over on Autocar magazine.

There's been word on a hot AMG version of the A-Class to go head to head with the likes of the forthcoming M135i and Audi RS3 for some time, and now we can put a little meat on the bones of the rumour.

Seems that the new car will be powered by a 330hp turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder motor (part developed by AMG's High Performance Engine offshoot in Brixworth), making it the most powerful four-cylinder engine Mercedes has put into a production car. There's no word on torque, but it's expected to outstrip the 332lb ft of torque from the 2.5-litre turbo five found in the RS3. With the 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo of the M135i making 320hp, that could make the Mercedes effectively the most powerful car in its class.

Power wheel be transferred to all four wheels via a twin-clutch gearbox and a Haldex-alike multi-plate clutch four-wheel drive system, and we can expect 0-60mph sprint times of less than five seconds.

The new car is expected to be around £32,000 when it goes on sale next year.

There's not much more official information around yet, but expect but we'll know more on it - and about the spec in detail - when the car is officially unveiled later this week.

[AdamPT]

given a choice of the 3, I think the beemer wins for me. Combo of 6 cylinders, rear wheel drive and looks (which I like despite general consensus). But AMG a welcome addition to this sector.

[sideways sid]

Sounds like a great car, but £32k??? And the rest!

[CraigyMc]

AdamPT said:

given a choice of the 3, I think the beemer wins for me. Combo of 6 cylinders, rear wheel drive and looks (which I like despite general consensus). But AMG a welcome addition to this sector.

So without having ever sat in the Merc you've written it off already?

[PetrolAholic]

If thats 32k when it comes out i'll eat my own testicles.

[thewheelman]

The styling is very Korean, several cues from Hyundai & Kia are plainly visible to see.

[10 Pence Short]

£32k when an Astra VXR is £26K? I'd add £10k onto the Merc price.

[StottyZr]

sideways sid said:

Sounds like a great car, but £32k??? And the rest!

To be fair it is 4WD with a twin clutch gearbox and 0-60 in under 5seconds. I don't think £32k is particularly expensive, especially when you compare to the RS3.

[russy01]

It looks alright, but they could have made it more exciting with a more exciting engine. 2.0T - I expected more from Merc.

[Panayiotis]

CraigyMc said:

AdamPT said:

given a choice of the 3, I think the beemer wins for me. Combo of 6 cylinders, rear wheel drive and looks (which I like despite general consensus). But AMG a welcome addition to this sector.

So without having ever sat in the Merc you've written it off already?

I dont see what is wrong with his comment, I think you need to settle down a bit. I dont like awd cars either, so I would be of a similar opinion, the man likes 6 cylinders also, I cant see how he needs to drive the merc to make this determination.

[wotnot]

Apart from the 4 cylinders (just doesn't seem right, a 4 pot AMG) it works for me. Compact, 4 wheel drive and big power sound good and it looks way better than the current A Class. Hopefully, in six or seven years time it will have depreciated enough for me to consider one.

[GravelBen]

The number 45 in the name made me think it should have a V8, disappointed now.

[Timberwolf]

This German-brand "is sort of like what you'd expect from that size engine so we'll stick that on the boot instead" badging policy has got to end.

It may end up being a great car but I am forever going to be disappointed that it's not an A-class with a 4.5 litre V8.

[Owlwood]

StottyZr said:

To be fair it is 4WD with a twin clutch gearbox and 0-60 in under 5seconds. I don't think £32k is particularly expensive, especially when you compare to the RS3.

Hmmm, don't think he was saying it was too expensive. I think he meant that it will probably cost more thatn 32K when it eventually goes on sale...

[flatline84]

If thats 32k come launch I`ll chew my own cock off on camera and post it on youtube

[matbat]

Will look lovely on a rally stage all muddy and stickered up :-D

I must say I kinda like it. For an an A-class it's a nice step from the rest of the range.

[Panayiotis]

GravelBen said:

The number 45 in the name made me think it should have a V8, disappointed now.

What is the 45 in reference to? Its 0-60 time?

[Garlick]

flatline84 said:

If thats 32k come launch I`ll chew my own cock off on camera and post it on youtube

PetrolAholic said:

If thats 32k when it comes out i'll eat my own testicles.

Enough of eating your own bits and pieces....thank you

[mat205125]

A four cylinder AMG car with a smaller engine than its direct german rivals?

What has the world come to?

[adz13091982]

Doesn't look like a hot hatch, more a hot MPV.

[T1berious]

be interesting to see what the options list is like, unless it includes (lol) sat nav, leather, dual zone air con, decent tunes, 19" rims etc, that 32K is little more than a pipe dream.

As most of the German manufacturers get shed loads of cash from the options list I doubt the "must have" for resale items will be included. However, it would be great to be proven wrong.