Mercedes-Benz unveils its first ever performance brand hatchback after pulling the wraps off the new A 45 AMG at the 2013 Dubai Motor Show.
[Not a valid template]The new Mercedes A 45 AMG – based on the A250 Sport which made its regional debut back in March – marks the first time a compact Mercedes has ever been developed into an AMG performance model. The new model forms part of Mercedes’ ‘AMG Performance 50’ strategy on the run-up to AMG’s 50th birthday celebrations in 2017.
Powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo engine that spits out 360hp and 332lb ft of torque, the new A 45 produces 149hp and 74lb ft more respectively than the already established A 250 Sport, an example of which crankandpiston.com tested alongside the new Volkswagen Golf GTI. Given that the AMG powerplant – mated to an AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT seven-speed sports transmission – is the most powerful series production four-cylinder engine in the world, the Merc hot hatch will sprint from 0-100kph in 4.6 seconds and onto an electronically limited top speed of 250kph.
Key design aspects of the A 45 include AMG’s twin-blade front grille, ‘Turbo AMG’ lettering on the rear spoiler, twin spoke AMG light alloy wheels and chrome-plated tailpipes. The new compact AMG also boasts 4MATIC all-wheel drive configuration for improved road handling and power delivery whilst still returning a 6.9-7.1L/100km
Should you be aged between 30 and 40 years old, a younger AMG target audience than normal, you may want to re-consider your Mercedes saloon options.
