evo UK – September 2019

(Axel Boer) #1

MERCEDES-AMGA45 S


http://www.evo.co.uk 027


transmission.Thebasic all-wheel-drive system


is similarto thatused on otherA-class modelsin


termsof thehardware up front, buta new twin


multi-plate clutch pack on therear differential


meansthesystemis capable of actively splitting


torque between notonlythefrontandrear axles,


butalso thetwo individualrear wheels.


Thishasallowed engineers to create the


increasinglyubiquitous‘drift mode’, whichwhen


selected willfacilitate Ford FocusRS-style ‘drifting’.


Outsideof thismodeit willallow more effective


deploymentof theengine’s considerablepower and


torque in normaldrivingcircumstances.


Whatthisnew technology needs to do, though,


is transform whatwas previouslya flat-footed,


characterless Top Trumps hatchbackinto


somethinggenuinelyfunto drive. Thenew rear


differential,andtheslightlymore playfulmentality


thatgoes withit, may finallyyieldresults for a car


thathasso far managed to eludeouraffections,


regardless of its performance capability.


TheA45 S willbe joined by a new CLA45 S too,


with‘45’ derivatives of Mercedes’ incumbent


compact SUVs to follow soon after.


byJORDANKATSIANIS

SPECIFICATION


In-line 4-cyl, 1991cc, turbo

415bhp@ 6750rpm

369lb ft @ 5000-5205rpm

1635kg

258 bhp/ton

3.9sec

167mph(limited)

c£50,000

Engine

Power

Torque

Weight

Power-to-weight

0-62mph

Top speed

Basic price

THE RIVALS


MERCEDES-AMG A35 4MATIC+


Theenemy within. At 302bhp the A35 is over 100bhp down,


butit is so capable that the 45’s jumpin performance and,


hopefully, driver involvement will be needed to justify the


extra £15k. They even look similar, the A45’s doubled tailpipe


count and new grille being the most obvious differences.


BMW M2 COMPETITION

Not a hatchback, admittedly, butthe M2 Competition’s

power (404bhp), price (£51,150) and badge cachet all align

almost perfectly. With the M4-derived S55 straight-six

under its bonnet, the M2 has serious pedigree too, so you’d

really have toneeda hatchback to not consider this.

AUDI RS3 SPORTBACK

Theoriginal hyperhatch. Theterm may have been coined

for the RS3, butthe A45 and its Ingolstadt rival have been

trading blows since the former’s introduction in 2013. The

current 394bhp RS3 previously held the‘most powerful

hot hatchback’title.
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