Mercedes-Benz means to get back to the top of the premium segment, and one way of doing that is by selling in numbers- and to do that, in turn, it needs to reach out to the masses with a smaller, more practical, inexpensive car that still retains the premium image and fell. The new A-Class promises just that, but we were always doubtful of an AMG version. After all, AMGs were about big, fire-breathing engines and one certainly couldn't be shoehorned into the A Class... or could it?
Affalterbach has come up with a solution: a small (for AMG) 2.0-litre, four cylinder turbocharged powerplant with a power output of 330bhp and 410Nm. It is designed by AMG High-Performance Engines, the same outfit that provides engines to the Mercedes, McLaren and Force India Formula 1 teams. With that kind of power it isn't surprising that Mercedes is going to feed it to all four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Drive will be biased towards the rear, although we aren't sure what capabilities will be engineered into it, it being the first time Mercedes is engineering a transverse engine with all-wheel drive. Stop/start and regenerative braking will be standard, ensuring the A45 AMG will be more economical than its rivals while being equally quick.
Mercedes has brought its entire range of products to the Indian market, and we can expect the A45 AMG to make it here as well. However, it will certainly be a CBU, which means the sky-high taxes and duties will make it really very expensive.
