Mercedes-Benz’s AMG off-shoot has confirmed the upcoming A45 AMG will make its world debut at the 2013 Geneva motor show - a year after standard versions of the German car maker’s new Mercedes-Benz A-Class first appeared in public.
The BMW M135i rivaling hatchback marks AMG’s first ever foray into Europe’s toughly fought hot hatch market, with Mercedes-Benz officials confirming right hand drive UK sales are planned to get underway in July 2013.
Pricing is yet to be announced but Autocar understands the A45 AMG will sell for around £36,000, with an optional performance package set to add a further £3000.
Pictured here in final prototype form wearing only light disguise across the lower section of its front bumper, the A45 AMG’s appearance has already been previewed by the AMG Sport styling package available on all new third-generation A-class models. Helping to provide the new car with an added touch of visual aggression is a set of standard 18-inch multi spoke wheels shod with 235/40 profile Dunlop Sport Maxx tyres, lowered ride height and twin trapezoidal shaped chromed tail pipes.
Powering AMG’s first ever hatchback is a new turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder direct injection petrol engine developed by AMG engine boss, Fritz Eichler. Known under the codename M132, the new unit is based around parent company Mercedes-Benz’s M274 engine of the same capacity – as used in the recently launched A250 CGI.
Running a twin scroll turbocharger with a maximum 1.8 bar of boost pressure, the transversely mounted engine is claimed provide the A45 AMG with 349bhp at 6600rpm together with 332lb ft of torque - an increase of 141bhp and 111lb ft over the A250’s less heavily tuned powerplant. By comparison, the M135i’s turbocharged 3.0-litre in-line six-cylinder engine kicks out 316bhp and the same 332lb ft.
Power is channeled to all four wheels via a seven speed dual clutch gearbox conceived and produced in-house at Mercedes-Benz’s gearbox plant near Stuttgart in Germany. It works in combination with a multi-plate clutch four-wheel drive system developed in co-operation with Austrian based production and engineering specialist Magna.
Mercedes-Benz officials suggest the A45 AMG will reach 62mph from standstill in 5.1sec with top speed limited to 155mph in standard trim and 168mph when running the optional performance package. Combined average fuel consumption is said to be above 40mpg.
Underpinning the new entry level AMG model is a modified version of the standard A-class’s MacPherson strut (front) and multi-link (rear) suspension. It has been lowered by around 25mm and receives thoroughly reworked elastokinematic prototypes, with new springs, dampers, bushes and anti-roll bar tuning. The A45 AMG also adopts the same front-end layout used by the A250. It uses different wheel bearings than other third-generation A-class models to provide a wider track.
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So you are buying a so called
So you are buying a so called performance car (by virtue of the fact it is an AMG), yet you have to pay an extra £3000 for the "performance" package?
Something's wrong there.
I agree. 0-60 in 5.1 secs
I agree. 0-60 in 5.1 secs seem a bit tardy. The Audi RS3 with "only" 335bhp manages it in 4.6.
Plus on another note I thought Audi had sold out all their RS3's? But they are still selling them on their official website...did they extend the run?
Wanos wrote: I agree. 0-60
Yes Audi did extend the RS3 run.
Why anybody would buy this, or the Audi, when the faster and better sounding, courtesy of its straight 6, M135i is available from under £30k is beyond me.
BMW has them all licked
They're clearly just playing for stats here - matching the torque of the M135i and then bumping the bhp up far enough to compensate for the fact that it's a (very ordinary) 4-in-line. I'll be mightily surprised if this is anywhere near as good as the M135i with its already legendary N55 engine (driving a 2011 335i I can attest that its status is justified). BMW is really cleaning up this segment right now, all they need is a good facelift for some additional front-end sex appeal and then you'd truly be out of your mind to consider anything other than the M135i when looking for a hot hatch.
Also anyone who believes this will get better real-life economy with its 4WD system than the M135i in RWD trim is deluding themselves.
A45 AMG
I would buy it because it has 4WD and is an AMG,a more economical replacement for my C63,we will not get it here in Canada,sadly,but if we got the BMW it would be 4wd here which sadly in UK you will not get,can't really understand why,marketing is so strange.We do not even get an Audi S3,never mind RS3,or RS4 or RS6.I admit I will look at the 3 available[M-B,Audi,BMW] and drive them before I decide,but the CLA45 for me is the choice until proven otherwise
mac
"... for a 2 Litre is
"... for a 2 Litre is astounding!"
The Mitsubishi Evo has been doing these numbers and higher from a production 2 litre turbo for years. Not that I'm comparing the two or taking anything away from the Merc.
I've been following this Merc with interest, however the 0-60 time of 5.1 seconds seems a little slow for a small powerful 4wd car. I'd have expected something in the mid to low 4's.