Friday 27th September 2013

20 years of Mercedes-AMG: Pic of the Week

A pair of red Mercs bookending the first two decades of factory Mercedes-AMGs. Enjoy!

---

20 years ago an RS Audi was a 4WD estate; it’s the same story in 2013. Likewise, a BMW M3 came with a straight-six engine plus a choice of bodystyles. The name may be different now, but the ideology remains similar.

Now consider AMG. Back in 1993, the lowest rung on its ladder was the C36, a 280hp bruiser chugging its straight-six power through a languid four-speed auto. Today we have the A45 as the entry-level AMG, a 360hp, dual-clutch ball of fury that pushes the hot hatch boundaries yet another stage further.

It’s quite a transformation, and one that will be detailed fully on PH in a feature next week on two decades of collaborative Mercedes-AMG vehicles. For now, here’s a teaser in wallpaper form, perhaps even a scarlet screensaver if you wish.

Following the C36 comparison, the A45 went on to feature with its hot hatch contemporaries in a spectacular two days, another ‘full story coming soon’ piece. A few absorbing days of driving the latest mega Merc has given Dan plenty to mull over ahead of next week’s story...

Traditional (4:3)
Computer widescreen (16:10)
TV widescreen (16:9)
Portrait (smartphone, etc)

Picture: PrimeExposures

[Triumph Man]

To be honest, I'd much rather have the C36. Call me a pillock, but the A45 AMG (on paper, I haven't driven it - but I'm sure it's amazing) just leaves me cold. I can respect it however.

[Cotty]

On looks alone ill take the one on the left.

[Kenny6868]

"20 years ago an RS Audi was a 4WD estate"

erm....19 years ago maybe. The first RS2 wasn't manufactured until 1994.

Sorry to be a pedant.

[Mermaid]

Kenny6868 said:

"20 years ago an RS Audi was a 4WD estate"

erm....19 years ago maybe. The first RS2 wasn't manufactured until 1994.

Sorry to be a pedant.

Conceived in 1993

[deltashad]

I always thought the 500e was the first real amg car. Saying that sure it was built by Porsche. I'll get my coat now.

[soad]

Cotty said:

On looks alone ill take the one on the left.

Agreed. New cars no longer appeal to me.

[oilit]

soad said:

Cotty said:

On looks alone ill take the one on the left.

Agreed. New cars no longer appeal to me.

+1 that a class looks bloody awful imho along with the front of all new mercs...

MB really need to up their game - they seem to have slipped so far behind audi

[juansolo]

Yup, I'd have the one on the left too.

[BULLITT Rich]

Id still prefer this AMG Mercedes

http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyI...

But given the choice of those two, the C36 please

[carinaman]

A very good friend that's prone to the precautionary principle and glass half-fulness once said that a former colleague had 'some big Merc'. I later found out that the 'Big Merc' was a C36 running LPG, so would seem to be a case where someone saw a badge and/or a grille and assumed the worse or saw what they wanted to see.

Without reading the text I had it down as a C43. Monkey had an LTT estate C43.

When the C36 was tested in CAR Magazine they said it had nicer steering than the E36 M3.

I can afford a C36 or C43, but not an A45. That Monkey video test of the A45 and 135iM was the most I've been interested in new cars for a while. 90s stuff is more interesting, but the way that A45 covers ground is impressive. It's a bigger step change than the VR6 Golf was from the GTIs?

[fjord]

Better than sex.

[carinaman]

Looking at the photo again, that W202 looks as well styled and proportioned as Monkey's E28 while the A45 looks like something from a Pixar or Disney film, it looks like a scaled up child's toy.

At least the Juke looks that bizarre you could imagine it appearing from the pod in Thunderbird 2.

[callahan]

I still miss my C36, but not that gearbox, it was pretty rubbish. Deceptively fast car though.

I saw the A45 in MB World recently and thought it looked great, I'd have that one. Actually I'd have a slightly older C63, but that's just me being awkward.

[jamespink]

Fear not, there are plenty of big engined Mercs in the traditional loved style. There was a C63 in the tyre bay next to me yesterday, properly mad overpowered car with a fabulous sound track, wonderful!

[Amirhussain]

soad said:

Cotty said:

On looks alone ill take the one on the left.

Agreed. New cars no longer appeal to me.

Rather have the A45, the C36 is not ugly, but not a looker either IMO, the only thing I like about it are the alloys.

[LaurasOtherHalf]

fjord said:

Better than sex.

You've been shagging the wrong girls.

[ArmaghMan]

jamespink said:

Fear not, there are plenty of big engined Mercs in the traditional loved style. There was a C63 in the tyre bay next to me yesterday, properly mad overpowered car with a fabulous sound track, wonderful!

Had a C36. It had really lovely note. While everyone knew what an M3 was no one had a clue about the C36.

[Collaudatore]

ArmaghMan said:

jamespink said:

Fear not, there are plenty of big engined Mercs in the traditional loved style. There was a C63 in the tyre bay next to me yesterday, properly mad overpowered car with a fabulous sound track, wonderful!

Had a C36. It had really lovely note. While everyone knew what an M3 was no one had a clue about the C36.

Yup. I had a C36 also. Amazing car. 280 horse isn't a lot by today's standards, but it sure held it's own against modern machinery and was plenty fast enough in the real world.
I miss her very much.
Sure he was soft and felt heavy but that's what it was...

[Amirhussain]

Collaudatore said:

ArmaghMan said:

jamespink said:

Fear not, there are plenty of big engined Mercs in the traditional loved style. There was a C63 in the tyre bay next to me yesterday, properly mad overpowered car with a fabulous sound track, wonderful!

Had a C36. It had really lovely note. While everyone knew what an M3 was no one had a clue about the C36.

Sure he was soft and felt heavy but that's what it was...

[Collaudatore]

Amirhussain said:

That was meant to say "she"... I blame my keyboard