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AMG unleashes 310 kW A45s to eat away at your money in 3.9 seconds

All hail Thee Powerful!

No, seriously. It is big wonder how a 2 liter 4 cylinder can produce so much power with just a turbocharger.

It is a question fans of biogger engines and performance cars alike have been wondering since Mercedes's tuning house AMG released the new AMG A45s, with a whopping 310 kW of power! That is so much, in fact, that the 421 PS earn AMG's baby hatchback a record of "world's most powerful production 2 liter", as well as retaining 'the most powerful hot hatch' title since the old RS3. Astonishing work, admittance needed. But what more is the car acpable of?

Let's start with the first thing that draws your attention to it, its looks. It is a looker. It is handsome. And that's because it's based on the A Class W177 platform. And knowing Mercedes design, you know it's a looker. We know that the AMG line A Class is a beauty, but the A45S takes it up to 11...or 45 in this case because boy is it a head turner. Even in its launch Selenite Grey Metallic paintjob, its haunches are noticed.

From the front, the immediate dominator is the new AMG Panamericana grille, the grille with 12 alloy vertical slats that make it look scary, only interrupted by the three pointed star emblem in the middle, housing the radiator and air intake for the engine and turbocharger. also added is in the front bumper a set of bigger side air intakes that serve a purpose of engine cooling and sending cool air to the brakes, yet remain closed off for aerodynamic benefits. The front apron is clad with black, and widened to give the cooling fan power to the engine, while a surefire way to tell the A45s apart is the full width trim piece between the grille and front apron, that wraps around the side intakes for an AMG effect similar to the E63s. It looks quite grown up in the front , and suits the hyper hatch aesthetic. AMG side skirts and rear bumpers finish the look, with an AMG inspired rear diffuser housing quad circular tailpipes, and rear bumper vents to give that power look. All the kit would not be an AMG standard without being blended in by the flared wider wheel arches, power domes on the bonnet, and rear boot spoiler. As if the name badges, Turbo 4Matic+ logo and noise wasn't enough

The Rolly boys, aka the wheels attached, come in 19 inch alloys. Design is different, and so is finish. The A45S comes with 7 multispole alloys or larger appearing 5 twinspoke alloy wheels, both options in ether Matte black or Brushed Aluminium finish. Added to the exterior are optional packages of Night Pack, Night Pack Plus, Aerodynamic Package and Edition 1 package. The Night Pack gives you tinted windows, black side skirt inners and black window surrounds as opposed to chrome or brushed aluminium options, black side mirrors and black exhaust tips, all finished in Piano Black, while Night Pack Plus adds blacked out badges and grille to the Night Pack combo. For those who want that bit of more style, the Aerodynamic Package is available as an option of R56 000, which gives the A45s a more angrier look with piano black trimpieces, such as front splitter combo, bumper canards, rear bumper vent trim, diffuser splitter and that all important Big Boy wing. This package is only available with Night Pack options

When the A45s originally came out in late 2019, it was available for the first 12 months with a Edition 1 package, which took the A45s to a new level of styling. Essentially it was an Aerodynamic A45s with either Yellow on Grey or Grey on Yellow. That refers to the colour scheme of the car and its AMG specific stripes, which were either Selenite Grey on a Solarbeam Yellow gloss finish, or yellow gloss on Selenite Grey Magno Metallic. Unless they are black , on Pearl White. That was an option that also continued with yellow Edition 1 Details inside. I would prefer not to spend the R116 000 option on the pack, and prefer my A45s sans Aero pack, but it would look good for those who do.

Photo Cred; Google

Inside is an absolute wonder. Step inside from the chrome topped door handles and you are greeted by an illuminated door sill bearing AMG on it. Then take in the wonderous atmosphere of the best interior design ever seen in a modern car. The pun "A Class above: springs to mind, because wow does it leave you breathless. It's not just the best in class, it's one of the best designs.

But more bestows the interior. It is made from high class leather and aluminium elements, as well as high quality plastic and alcantara touches as far as the eye can see. Some areas are a bit kitchy, but that's in the areas that the eyes cannot see. Those hard plastics are found in areas such as the inner door handles and underside centre consoles (basically areas you would not focus on) Apart from that, and the usual dashboard creaks, the A45s interior remains a solid place to be. Hard to get over the design, though, as even the vents are styled beautifully. They are inspired by jet engine propellers and are smoothly finished in brushed aluminium. In the A45s brushed aluminium is also a dashboard trim that extends to the front doors, the design separated only by the infotainment screens. Oh, and two points of interest on the dashboard trim; one is that it can come as the trim as standard or a specialised AMG livery trim. The second is that it has the coolest underglow design from the ambient lighting, which also stretches to the door. More ambient lighting is seen on the underside of the centre console, as well as underglow of the door handles, door pockets and the footwells. The aero air vents also receive the ambient lighting uderglow for a lovely theme, and if you choose not to opt for the body hugging racing seats from the AMG GT catalogue, the standard AMG seats also don ambient lighting glow on the air gap on both front and rear seats

Look beneath the lighting and design, and it is business as usual. Through the piano finish of the centre console there is a storage bin lined with more lighting and enough space for two cups and a USB-C charging port. An ashtray is optional for those who like a bit of internal smoke. The new A45s also has enough storage in its glove box and two-way opening cubbyhole for an additional 12v socket, and the seats house ample storage space for minor things.

In terms of technology and features, the A45s comes standard with the Level 2 MBUX Advanced infotainment system, which has AMG’s bespoke touches, such as the engine and gearbox oil temperature sensors, drive modes and torque figures. In reality, the only major differences is the flat bottomed bespoke AMG steering wheel with aluminium milled AMG bespoke shift paddles, aluminum pedals and front bucket seats. The AMG steering wheel comes with two touch sensitive roundels that can alter the drive (Comfort, sport, Sport+), as well as allow the driver to configure the individual settings such as suspension, exhaust, gearbox ferocity and engine performance. The A45s also gets a full sized instrument screen with AMG specific graphics and configurable screen dials. The specific details have a collaborative AMG Drivers Package, which includes AMG Track Pace – a package that allows drivers to upload telemetry of data they accumulate art a track, such as 0-100 times, ¼ mile times, lap times and brake distance. The system also uploads top speed and average speed on any track driven, as well as a map of the track. No doubt a lot of users are not going to use it, but it is a nice to have. This comes on twin 10.3 in screens, the main infotainment benefiting from touchscreen functions. Switchgear is lifted from the A Class.

In the Edition 1 you can choose to have the front bucket seats as an option, but as standard the A45 comes with yellow half cplours on its seats and stitching, as well as the 12 o-clock stripe on the steering wheel. Of course, this omits the option to fit AMG red seatbelts, but such a small price to pay. In description, it is part of the Two Tone Artico/Man made leather or Alcantara material available only to the A45s, with contrasting yellow stitching. Other interior colour options are available on order, some part of the AMG Leather or Leather Performance package, or alcantara package, where the steering wheel and door and seat inners are clad in Alcantara with Red or Yellow steering. Space in the rear is not affected by the new diff, with the theme of the back following the front in interior design. This means that at the back, the same Alcantara design goes through, and even the ambient lighting on the seats with the AMG Standard Performance package. Legroom is decent, and so is knee room, even with the bulk of the seats. Headroom is decent as well, considering the panoramic glass sunroof that takes up half of the roof. Wheelbase is amazing, being 20 cm more than the old A45, meaning more room in the cabin. The only affected area is the boot, due to the truck rear diff eating away at rear space, meaning the 510 liter boot is now 450 in the A45s.

Now there is a lot of show, and being an AMG one would expect the baby AMG to have a lot of go.

And it does.

A LOT OF GO GO GO!

This Go is courtesy of a brand new AMG 2 Liter 4pot mated to a single turbo that produces a whopping 310 kW of power. That's nearly as much as the brand's famed 6.2 liter V found in the W204 C63. How they managed to squeeze so much power from the baby AMG is through a new block, 2.1 bar twin-scroll turbo and exhaust manifold, two-stage piezo injectors, electronically controlled wastegate and multiple water pumps to cool the cylinder head and crankcase separately. The engine's 500 NM of torque is pushed through its 4Matic+ all wheel drive system via an 8 speed multiclutch automatic gearbox which, when launch control in Race Mode is engaged, propels the car from standstill to 100 kmh in a claimed 3.9 seconds and would only run out of puff when the car hits 280 kmh. Although that is a limited top speed, because the way it gets there makes you feel as of the car still wants to go on.

Why claimed? Because it definitely hit 100 in 3.7 seconds, thanks to the 4Matoc+ system. Big thanks, because the same system is courtesy of a brand new trick differential that makes the car heavier. It is much heavier than its competitors, as well as its junior A35, weighing 1,635 kg. That means it's only 60kg shy of the Alfa Romeo Giulietta QV, a rival for the C63s. The Heaviness may produce a counter balance.

Ironically, it doesn't feel the weight. Taking it out for a spin you notice that the steering is light but weighted enough to feel the wheels and point the direction. Even though the car weighs so much, the weight is evenly distributed across both axles (the engine on top of the front, the diff and drive on top of the rear), creating a balanced drive during corners. As for the suspension, the system used is the McPhearson front struts with adaptive dampers all round. Frequency-selected shock absorbers ensure a balanced ride during high speed cruising, supple comfort in Comfort and flatter and balanced cornering stability. The AMG Ride Control ensures that all three modes are differentiated by the way the suspension can be changed. How it works in practice is actually wonderful. Because the AMG Torque Control has the job of sending the power to the wheels with the most grip, in a corner the torque goes to the innermost wheels to ensure that the utmost grip is accomplished through intense corning. It works, because even under intense cornering, the car remains planted. The car holds on to its stride better than before, and is extremely nimble and throwable in tight corners, and only when pushed to the absolute limit does it pose a tiny sign of slight understeer

That is because of the trick diff. It is basically a platform that balances the drive of power to suit the car more. And that's not even its party trick. Put it in Race Mode, turn ESP off and press both paddles and you engage Drift Mode. Up paddle later and 50% of the car's power is split 100% both ways to let you smoke up some tires like an Evo. This ensures maximum fun, of course

It's a brilliant car. In Race Mode, the gearbox shifts so quick you don't even count. It may as well product the quickest shifts in a road car, bar Ferraris. And then its noise gets you. The roar that pipes through the quad pipes takes you through every mesmerizing step of the engine. It gives a roaring chime when acceleration and on the move, it gives a quick and loud whipcrack sound when upshifting, sending all 500 NM torque through those 235/35 R19 tyres all round, and popcorn crackles when downshifting. Even when those 6-piston calipers and 360 x 36mm front discs with 330 x 20 mm 1 piston rears under tremendous stress they don't give, and the popcorn exhaust sounds are audibly satisfying. Interior noise is switchable through the speakers for a balanced sound when in quieter driving conditions, and Powerful when pushed harder, or in Race and Sport mode. This in combination with flappable valves in the exhaust means the car has drama noise when it wants to make noise, and nice and soft for the moments you don't wanna show off. It even starts quietly, but it will give you a chance to blast your music through its Harman Kardon surround sound system.

It's a multi purpose vehicle, the A45s. Early Mondays it is used to comfortably take the kids to school with its relatively comfy seats and suspension, keeop the main man entertained with its Hey Mercedes and interchangeable ambient lighting on his way to work and for trips around town and longer journeys its calimed average of 8.4 l /100km can sip the fuel from the 51 liter petrol tank for a whole 607 kms. Then on Saturday, its 310 kW can be played with all weekend around the nearest race track, and its Pre-SAFE collision prevention Assist can do what it says on the tin. For the clumsy surroundings, a reverse camera and rear and front PDC comes as standard, and 360' cameras come as an option. Not to worry, the car can be speccesd with 9 airbags, although a standard 7 ain't bad, considering its Euro NCAP is 5 stars. Not shabby for a hatchback.

The Pocket

The shabby area is the price. Such a big price for a small price to pay. In fact, the car caused massive stir in 2020 when it came to SA with a price of R1.5 million. HUH? Mind you, that specific price point was for the Edition 1 models, but even still retailing at R1,15 million is still no small feat. But if you get it as standard, it starts at R990k for a base - if you could call a starting AMG A45s a base - version. Thankfully the A45s has been in the market for quite a while, so it has been affected by some depreciation that has brought the price down. You can now get one for around R1.25 million which is much better. It has a few kms under its belt, as well as a still valid maintenance plan and warranty of 7 years / 200 000km. The only thing one suffers from buying used is that it may no be the model you're looking for. The options list may also end world prace in your house , even though it is so tempting. The A45s comes as standard with a lot, but if you want todifferentiate your car, there is a lot to do. Sunroof, wheels, brake calipers, and packages, as well as optional extras within the infotainment.

But now that the A45s is getting more valuable, as a verdict, it costs mult purpose vehicle money, but it is a multi purpose vehicle car. It is an econo box, a daily traveler, a city slicker amd a practical sports car. It's basically a hot hatchback made authentically by Mercedes-AMG. The fact that it is the most powerful production hot hatchback sweetens the deal.

@Thabi_Hot_Boy