evo UK – September 2019

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.