Mercedes-Benz AMG A45: The hottest of the hot hatches

The most powerful of the modern mega- or hyper-hatch segment, the Mercedes-Benz AMG A45 was first launched in 2013 boasting a then unheard of 355BHP for the broader hot hatch segment. However, with the arrival of the Audi RS3 Sportback and then imminent introduction of the Ford Focus RS, Mercedes responded by hiking the A45’s power to 376BHP late last year.

An extreme five-door family hatchback reworked as high performance machine, the A45 and its peers are largely inspired by rally cars like the Lancia delta Integrale and subsequent hatchbacks dominating the sport. Rally inspired but not derived from motorsport, the AMG A45 and its cohorts are too heavy, big and luxurious to be rally derived, but utilise four-wheel drive and contemporary electronic driver assistance systems to effectively channel such high output.

Compact luxury

Elegantly restrained in standard guise, with little outward signs of its brutal capability, the A45 features a luxurious and thoroughly well equipped yet sportily driver-focused cabin. Developed by Mercedes’ inhouse AMG Skunk Works division, it is the result of and natural evolution of the emergence of a broader compact premium automotive segment catering to a more urbanised milieu of fuel efficient cars.

Virtually unaltered in appearance apart from lighting elements, the refreshed AMG A45 retains its discretely athletic character and road presence, and elegantly translates Mercedes’ design language and identity. With sporty concave grilled design with large tri-star emblem mounted within, the A45 also features aggressively wide intakes, road-hugging front bumper and side skirts, and huge optional 19-inch alloy wheels.

Discreet in basic spec, the AMG A45 can also be optioned with more vivid colour schemes and graphics, and appearance packages. Including a prominent tailgate mounted wing, rear air diffuser, painted brake callipers and contrasting alloy wheel pinstripes, such packages highlight the A45’s wild side and underscore its performance potential, and even include a Petronas edition in homage to Mercedes’ championship-winning Formula 1 team.

Prodigious power

Powered by the world’s most powerful regular production 2-litre 4-cylinder engine, the AMG A45 uprated powerhouse retains the same 1.8-bar turbo boost pressure as before, and retains almost identical fuel consumption figures. Instead, it achieves its 21BHP power and
18lb/ft torque hikes through the use of reworked valve assembly, timing and turbocharger, which also yield improved throttle response.

Prodigiously powerful, with high
188BHP/litre power the AMG A45’s turbocharged four-pot engine develops 376BHP at 6000rpm and 350lb/ft throughout 2250-5000rpm, which with a 1,555kg mass and tenacious off-the-line four-wheel traction allows for a scorching swift acceleration. Using a twin-scroll turbocharger and short gas flow pathways, the A45’s moment of inertia from standstill is reduced, if not eliminated.

After a moment of initial turbo lag, the A45 bolts through the 0-100km/h benchmark in 4.2 seconds, which helped by shortened gear ratios for enhanced fluency, response and performance, constitutes an improvement of 0.4 seconds. Capable of an electronically governed 250km/h top speed, the A45 proved relentlessly swift and muscular on track at the Yas Marina Formula 1 circuit in Abu-Dhabi, with broad and versatile mid-range allows effortless on-the-move acceleration.

Agile and aggressive

Intense and aggressive in delivery and rorting, popping soundtrack, the A45’s savage power build-up is underwritten by its vast mid-range muscle. However, it is most eager and alert when revs are kept high, either by using its 7-speed gearbox’s more snappily aggressive Sport+mode, or manual steering-mounted paddle-shift manual actuation mode when driving through a tighter auto-cross like handling course.

Able to automatically interrupt ignition and injection for swifter gear shifts at full load, the AMG’s surge of power is thus little interrupted. In default conditions, the A45 drives the front wheels but is able to re-distribute power to all four wheels — with up to 50 per cent rearwards — when necessary to maintain traction. Additionally, it features a torque vectoring system to brake selectively inside wheels for better cornering agility.

Agile and swift through a fast and tight slalom circuit at Yas Marina, the A45 tucks in tidily into corners with good commitment and high rear grip levels when pushed hard through corners and leaning on the outside tyres. Taken to its dynamic limits, the A45 has a natural tendency to oversteer, but this can be controlled by easing off the throttle, but for yet nimbler, crisper and more confident cornering, an optional mechanical limited-slip front differential is available.

Well-equipped and ergonomic

Composed, quick and capable pouncing from one corner to the next and superb control, the AMG A45 is a car best driven in a brisk and meaningful manner to get the most of its agile handling, massive performance potential and grippy-when-loaded chassis set-up. Responding particularly well to being pointed early and deliberately into an apex, the A45 shift its weigh out to tighten a cornering line before digging in and blasting out.

Smoothly firm with good body control and quick precise steering, the A45 was at home during smooth track driving. Sporty and stylish inside, the A45 features supportive leather sports seats, round crosshair air vents, chunky flat-bottom steering wheel, carbon-fibre trim and intuitive layouts including clear instrumentation and enlarged tablet-style infotainment screen for 2015+ models.

A practical well-equipped 5-seat 5-door high performance hatchback, the A45 features a well-adjustable driving position and visibility, remote central locking, parking assistance, climate control and Collision Prevention Assist system. With versatile fold down rear seats for expanding luggage volume, the Middle East spec A45’s boot floor mounted spare tyre reduces boot space from a 341-litre minimum available for Euro-spec models with a tyre repair kit.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Engine: 2-litre, turbocharged transverse 4 cylinders

Bore x stroke: 83 x 92mm

Compression ratio: 8.6:1

Valve-train: 16-valve, DOHC, direct injection,

Maximum boost: 1.8-bar

Gearbox: 7-speed automatic, four-wheel drive

Top gear/final drive: 0.94:1/4.13:1

0-100km/h: 4.2 seconds

Top speed: 250km/h (electronically governed)

Redline: 6700rpm

Power, BHP (PS) [kW]: 376 (381) [280] @6000rpm

Specific power: 188.8BHP/litre

Power-to-weight: 241.8BHP/tonne

Torque, lb/ft (Nm): 350 (475) @2250-5000rpm

Specific torque: 238.5Nm/litre

Torque-to-weight: 305.4Nm/tonne

Fuel consumption, urban/extra-urban/combined:9.6-/6-/7.3-litres/100km

CO2 emissions, combined: 171g/km

Fuel capacity: 56 litres

Length: 4299mm

Width: 1780mm

Height: 1433mm

Wheelbase: 2699mm

Track, F/R: 1553/1552mm

Overhang, F/R: 913/687mm

Kerb weight: 1555kg

Headroom, F/R: 1017/952mm

Luggage volume, min/max: 341-/1157-litres

Steering: Variable assistance, rack and pinion

Turning circle: 11.04 metres

Suspension: Multi-link

Brakes: Ventilated, perforated discs, 350mm/330mm

Tyres: 235/35R19