MODEL TESTED: Mercedes-AMG A 45 S 4MATIC+ Plus PRICE: £63,285 POWERTRAIN: 2.0-litre 4cyl, 415bhp
AT £63,285, the A 45 S costs an incredible amount of money for a five-door hatchback, but there’s a huge amount of bespoke engineering to justify the Mercedes-AMG’s price tag.
Tech highlights
MECHANICALLY, the A 45 S is identical to before. Not that the 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine needed more power, anyway; it kicks out 415bhp at 7,200rpm and 500Nm of torque. AMG’s engineers shaped the torque curve so that peak shove arrives at a fairly heady 5,000rpm.
The block itself has been rotated 180 degrees relative to other A-Class engines, which means the turbocharger and exhaust manifold face the rear of the car and the intake is at the front, improving airflow both
