Monday 5th November 2018

'Beyond 400hp' Mercedes-AMG A45 caught testing

Even with the A35 almost upon us, Mercedes-AMG is wasting no time perfecting its follow-up to big brother

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Hot on the heels of Mercedes-AMG's recently unveiled A35 is the full fat A45 version, which was filmed at the Nurburgring last week during high speed testing. Following the introduction of AMG's new entry-level hot hatch, the second generation A45 is due with a higher-specification version of the same boosted 2.0-litre offering more than 400hp.

That, you'll note, would give it at least 200hp per litre and, unless something more ballistic bursts out in the coming weeks, should ensure the A45's motor offers the highest specific output for a production engine in the world. Not even the McLaren Senna and its 800hp 4.0-litre can top it.

Where the 306hp A35 rivals the BMW M140i, Audi S3 and Volkswagen Golf R, the A45 will be up against cars like the RS3, BMW M2 Competition and, when it arrives in 2020, the next-generation Ford Focus RS. As such, its twin-scroll turbocharged four-cylinder engine, although based on the same hand-built M133 base, will be extensively reengineered with unique internals, a new aluminium crankcase and different cylinder head.

With more than 400hp to drive all four wheels via an expected new nine-speed automatic (the A35 gets a seven-speed transmission), we can expect the old A45's 4.2 second 0-62mph time to be eclipsed. Are we looking at a sub 4.0 sec super hatch? Don't bet against it. And don't expect this hatchback to only offer point and squirt performance, because its savage straight-line performance will be joined by enhanced dynamic adjustability thanks to the magic of torque vectoring.

Add in structure-stiffening components like an aluminium shear panel beneath the engine and two additional diagonal braces up front, as well as AMG MacPherson strut suspension, aluminium wishbones and four-link rear axle suspension, and you have yourself a high performance setup to rival premium sports cars. Adaptive dampers, an option on the A35, ought to feature as standard.

Elsewhere, we can expect incremental improvements over the not-exactly-under-gunned A35, partly to give the A45 greater performance but also to justify the inevitable higher price. The old A45 started at £40k; the new A35 starts at £35k. So expect the new five-door model to start somewhere its predecessor and the the £49,805 M2 Competition. In pure performance terms, expect it to be the new hatchback benchmark.

 

[sidesauce]

What a time to live in when fast hatchbacks easily bought by the public are closing in on what would have been considered exotic supercar-level performance stats 15 years ago...

[gigglebug]

It is easy to forget the all too real dangers faced by those who put their lives at risk to provide us with these glimpses of future models but you can clearly hear the unmistakable sound of the cameraman taking fire from semi-automatic machine gun in the opening sequence. Sir we salute your bravery.

[amgmcqueen]

Lot's of lovely understeer.....

[Deep Thought]

gigglebug said:

It is easy to forget the all too real dangers faced by those who put their lives at risk to provide us with these glimpses of future models but you can clearly hear the unmistakable sound of the cameraman taking fire from semi-automatic machine gun in the opening sequence. Sir we salute your bravery.

Edited by Deep Thought on Monday 5th November 13:02

[Chestrockwell]

sidesauce said:

What a time to live in when fast hatchbacks easily bought by the public are closing in on what would have been considered exotic supercar-level performance stats 15 years ago...

Good point but are these easily bought by the public?

This will no doubt be quicker than an M2 Competition but the fact is, the M2 is a 2 door coupe with a wider body and a purposeful look, also a straight 6 and RWD. At 50 grand, it’s a lot of money but money well spent.

The A45 will have super car rivalling performance and what not but it’s still a hatchback with nothing more than a different grill and bigger exhausts. At 50 grand, I don’t care how quick it is, it’s still a small hatchback. Id much rather an M2, or even an M4 and C63 with a few thousand miles on them!

[Mike1990]

Impressive for sure. As said, what i time to be alive with these near as dammit 400+bhp hot hatches with last decades Sports/Supercar rivalling performance and reliabilityto boot. I remember when the Cosworth Impreza appeared way back in 2009/10 with 400bhp, that was unheard of back then.

[wab172uk]

Isn't it the case with these 7-8-9 speed gearboxes, that they can get caught out by themselves? Where the slightest brush of the accelerator, sends the gearbox into a frenzy kicking down from 9th to 3rd?

Reason why I didn't buy an RS3 was the gearbox.

Have never been a BMW fanboy, but the M2 Competition with a manual gearbox is starting to appeal more daily.

Anyone know what sort of Discounts would be achievable on am M2 Comp?

Edited by wab172uk on Monday 5th November 14:53

[Deep Thought]

Chestrockwell said:

sidesauce said:

What a time to live in when fast hatchbacks easily bought by the public are closing in on what would have been considered exotic supercar-level performance stats 15 years ago...

Good point but are these easily bought by the public?

This will no doubt be quicker than an M2 Competition but the fact is, the M2 is a 2 door coupe with a wider body and a purposeful look, also a straight 6 and RWD. At 50 grand, it’s a lot of money but money well spent.

The A45 will have super car rivalling performance and what not but it’s still a hatchback with nothing more than a different grill and bigger exhausts. At 50 grand, I don’t care how quick it is, it’s still a small hatchback. Id much rather an M2, or even an M4 and C63 with a few thousand miles on them!

And therein lies one of the problems with us and our A45. Looks like an A220D AMG Line. I think AMG Mercedes have been quite lazy with they styling compared to what BMW have done with the M2. BUT conversely, there will be people say thats what they want from an AMG....

[Deep Thought]

wab172uk said:

Isn't it the case with these 7-8-9 speed gearboxes, that they can get caught out by themselves? Where the slightest brush of the accelerator, sends the gearbox into a frenzy kicking down from 9th to 3rd?

Reason why I didn't buy an RS was the gearbox.

Have never been a BMW fanboy, but the M2 Competition with a manual gearbox is starting to appeal more daily.

Anyone know what sort of Discounts would be achievable on am M2 Comp?

It depends how manic a mode you have the car in. In Sport+ or Race yes, it drops gears when you touch the accelerator, but not so much in Sport and even less so in Comfort (which has its own problems)

Once the initial furore has died down i'd expect discounts on this new A45 to be in line with the previous model, which was around 12% from a broker. We got 10% off from our local dealer after heavy "negotiation". M2 Comp discounts seem sparse, if at all but that may change.

Edited by Deep Thought on Monday 5th November 14:46

[anonymous-user]

Wab - no, that doesnt really happen with the S-tronic. If you're cruising in comfort then switch to Dynamic and floor it, it'll obviously drop to whatever is necessary but i've never seen it drop 6 gears in one go.

[Rich_W]

Ariticle said:

9 speed

In a transverse engine mounted hatchback?

The 7 speed only just bloody fits!

[Mr.Jimbo]

I'm seriously impressed by that engine, having seen some benchmarking of competitor engines I'd love to know how they're getting that much power on that architecture without melting cylinder heads - perhaps they've gone away from the Mercedes common combustion system.

200bhp/litre in an OEM, warranted application is something to be very proud of.

[PixelpeepS3]

How about some perspective ?

Escort cosworth 220bhp ish?
Pug 205 1.9GTI 130bhp?
Golf Mk2 GTI 16v 160bhp?

Rover V8 - 150bhp..

[Mr_Sukebe]

Regardless of the Mercedes heritage, I wonder about long term reliability of an engine that stressed.
If 2nd hand buyers feel the same, has the potential to be a depreciation disaster.

[Deep Thought]

Thornaby said:

Wab - no, that doesnt really happen with the S-tronic. If you're cruising in comfort then switch to Dynamic and floor it, it'll obviously drop to whatever is necessary but i've never seen it drop 6 gears in one go.

Yes, worth clarifying, it wont drop six gears at a time.

[Deep Thought]

Mr_Sukebe said:

Regardless of the Mercedes heritage, I wonder about long term reliability of an engine that stressed.
If 2nd hand buyers feel the same, has the potential to be a depreciation disaster.

The A45 AMG in its current guise has been around since 2013. Whilst there were initial gearbox problems i dont think overall reliability has been an issue.

Ours has been impeccable.

[PixelpeepS3]

Remember when the Evo FQ-400 came out... had to be serviced every 4000 miles?

think we've progressed rather well since then

[TwinExit]

Mr.Jimbo said:

I'm seriously impressed by that engine, having seen some benchmarking of competitor engines I'd love to know how they're getting that much power on that architecture without melting cylinder heads - perhaps they've gone away from the Mercedes common combustion system.

200bhp/litre in an OEM, warranted application is something to be very proud of.

3 ways to do this...

1 - 400 HP is made at high RPM (less torque/cylinder pressure needed for target power)
2 - Use 'charge cooling' such as methanol or water injection (much like the BMW M4 GTS)
3 - They lie/exaggerate the output.

[TwinExit]

PixelpeepS3 said:

Remember when the Evo FQ-400 came out... had to be serviced every 4000 miles?

think we've progressed rather well since then

The FQ400 rarely proved itself to make the claimed power output on the available pump fuel of the time. Owners reported 340-350 HP.

Hard turbocharged engines require frequent oil changes due to thermal break down and fuel dilation.

[SRT Moto79]

So a 50k Merc that looks like a Kia and sounds like a Dyson? Erm nope, I'm out and away to boil my head 😆