Thursday 5th January 2017

Mercedes-AMG A45 Petronas: Spotted

Just how big a Mercedes F1 fan are you? Here's your chance to prove it!

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A cursory scout around the PH classifieds reveals all manner of motorsport inspired special editions. There's everything, from cars as cool and interesting as a Talbot Sunbeam Lotus Essex F1 and a GT-R Bathurst replica, to those as dubious as a Martini wrapped Focus RS and Yaris SRMotorsport Edition.

Mmm, petrol green

But this could be the worst. Or rather, the best. The Mercedes Benz AMG A45 Petronas 2015 World Champion Edition was a special edition unknown to us at PH, at least until recently when Mercedes fan Dan was looking for a car to get a friend out of an Audi S3. Here's something! Apparently the Audi isn't for sale just yet...

The Petronas Edition was launched at the end of Lewis Hamilton's championship-winning season in 2015. You suspect the current world champion won't receive the same treatment. It was - and most probably still is - mechanically standard, meaning 381hp (note this is an AMG A45, and not an A45 AMG) and 350lb ft from the 2.0-litre turbo. Interestingly the Petronas cars all had the optional Dynamic Plus pack too, which brings the limited-slip differential on the front and adaptive damping.

Read more:

• Mercedes-AMG A45 facelift review
• Mercedes-AMG C63 facelift - New York Motor Show
• 2018 Mercedes-AMG G63: Driven

But you don't want to know about all that, do you? The key distinguishing points (in case you hadn't spotted them) of a Petronas Edition are the 'petrol green' graphics - including a 'rim flange' for the wheels - an aero pack comprising a bigger front splitter, front canards and a rear wing plus three shades of grey paint to choose from: mountain grey, designo mountain grey and polar silver. Lovely.

There's more, too. According to Mercedes the interior "also radiates a racing atmosphere", what with the badges, the electronically adjustable leather seats and the petrol green rings in the air vents. Just like a race car. And check out those seat belts!

Mmm, more petrol green

The car was launched at the end of the 2015 season, with sales commencing over here early last year. There are in fact two for sale on PH at the moment, offered in grey or grey. Sorry, silver. They're both for sale at £43,000 which, given their age and mileage, isn't absurd as far as A45s go. And if silver isn't your thing, how about Elbaite Green?

Alright, we're being a little silly now. The A45 is a car PH likes a great deal, blessed with a great engine, brilliant brakes and very clever damping. Alright, perhaps its overall demeanour is a little too serious, but there remains a lot to like about it. Moreover, it can be an extremely subtle way to travel very quickly. If you don't wish to "share the success of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg" with a Petronas Edition, how about this A45? It's as cheap as they get at £25K but probably the most discreet too, in black with the standard wheels. With so many AMG Sport cars around, it would be very hard to identify this car without the badge.

There's variety aplenty as far as A45s go then, with CLAs and GLAs also available. If you really want to stand out though, it would appear the Petronas 2015 World Champion Edition is the way to go.

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MERCEDES-AMG A45 PETRONAS 2015 WORLD CHAMPION EDITION
Engine: 1,991cc 4-cyl, turbocharged
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch, four-wheel drive
Power (hp): 381@6,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 350@2,250-5,000rpm
MPG: 40.9mpg (claimed)
CO2: 162g/km
First registered: 2016
Recorded mileage: 2,000
Price new: £39,995 (standard A45)
Yours for: £42,990

See the original advert here.

[patmahe]

Oh dear!

I have no problem with an 'F1 special' in theory, but if it has no actual mechanical enhancements over the car on which its based then at the very least it needs to look good (think John player Esprit). This is just a (admittedly decent) hatch with some stickers on it.

I'd stick with a standard one if I was going that way I think. So its a no from me.

[jamespink]

Wow! Max Power styling and £43k. Tricky market that...

[Dave Hedgehog]

very nice, assuming they have the FL mechanical spec (i.e. better gearbox).

[sh33n]

Never seen or heard of these before.

Interior is quite nice, exterior is too loud.

Certainly wouldn't be getting my money.

[Krikkit]

Really like the interior - if the stickers on the outside aren't lacquered over you could remove them (maybe leave the bonnet stripe, everyone loves a bonnet stripe!) and enjoy.

[JohnoVR6]

There's one of these in MB World at Brooklands at the moment, the interior is very, very nice up close - as are the new wheels.

Pretty sure its a darker hue than the one in the advert though, as I really don't remember the graphics being that garish/ obvious?!

[Loyly]

Looks pretty brash, but I love it!

[AWV12]

Here another one for sale (LHD, including crazy Dutch Luxury / CO2 tax, for export it would be much cheaper):

http://thijstimmermans.com/voertuig/12086035/merce...

[BFleming]

I just looked on How Many Left, and this is described as the AMG A45 4M PET-NAS WCHAMP ED A. 17 of them in the UK at the end of Q3 2016, so pretty rare. As opposed to desirable.
https://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/vehicle/mercedes_amg...
Seems Mercedes built 250.

Dave Hedgehog said:

very nice, assuming they have the FL mechanical spec (i.e. better gearbox).

Are all A45's Auto's? Also what's the difference between an AMG A45 & an A45 AMG for the uninitiated?

Edited by BFleming on Thursday 5th January 18:38

[hornetrider]

Tragic. There isn't a single situation where it would be cool to drive that abortion.

[Ahbefive]

Horrible stripes, a shame as it would be nice without them and just with the accents on the interior.

Its a shame there is nothing to distinguish the a45 from the base models except the aero pack that nobody seems to go for.

[Yipper]

It is about £10k overpriced. It is just a fancy paint and sticker job. But in the current crazy market, it wouldn't be a surprise to see it sell.

[anonymous-user]

That's about worse in every way compared to stock.

[anonymous-user]

Simply horrific.
I'll take a Nitrous Blue FRS or a RS3 please.

[Escort3500]

yonex said:

That's about worse in every way compared to stock.

[stuart-b]

Anyone else think that it would be f*cking embarrassing driving that around?

"Oh I really like that A class with those green stickers and matt paint"

[FN2TypeR]

I would rather iron my own hands, frankly.

[RedAMG45]

I have replaced white my non face lift(Which i had for two years) with face lift in red
have look in the readers car section
I would never been see dead in the Petronas special edition

[lbc]

It looks really good apart from the rear, which looks like an old MG Rover 25.

Mercedes should bring out a Petronas C-Series which would sell in bucket loads, instead of all the AMG rubbish.

[patmahe]

This article just reminded me that Mercedes have form here. Anyone remember these beauties?