In addition to a fresh design and a few nips and tucks here and there, the new 2019 Mercedes-AMG A45 will also produce more than 400 hp without any hybrid or electric wizardry.
Mercedes-Benz along with its performance division AMG is currently busy setting lofty benchmarks for other players in the segments it is operating in. The latest benchmark has been set for hot hatchbacks with the introduction of the 2019 Mercedes-AMG A45.
The A45 is based on the 2018 Merc A-Class, the company' premium hatchback offering, which is powered by a selection of diesel and petrol engines. Under the hood of the A45 however, there lies a tiny 2.0-liter turbocharged four-pot petrol motor that is very unassuming in proportions. When it comes to specifications, it puts most bigger engines to shame with its astounding output. You see, AMG has tuned the little engine to produce at least 400 hp, if not more. What's more, all the power is courtesy of internal combustion. The A45 AMG does not have electric motors assisting its powertrain. Mercedes-AMG boss Tobias Moers said that the team has dialed up the A45 all the way to 11 while speaking about the car at the New York Auto Show.
The A45 is not only about the power output. The hot hatch is referred to as the total package with its diminutive proportions, luxurious interiors, handsome design, and an impressive suite of electronics that does everything from managing the car's power delivery, grip levels to controlling the air-con, safety systems, infotainment, et al. Mercedes has given the hot hatch its latest multifunction steering wheel with paddle shifters and two high-definition screens, one of which is the dashboard cluster while the other is used for multimedia and infotainment. The AC vents are redesigned circular units, and there is an updated COMAND touch-based controller to navigate through the multimedia screen.
The news does not end here, as Moers also confirmed that Mercedes-AMG is also working on an entry-level A35 that will be a bit more approachable for the masses than the insane A45. The company is targeting a 300+ hp output with the power delivered to all four wheels. The A35 will run the A45's 2.0-liter four-pot, albeit slightly detuned. Mercedes is also developing 2019 versions of the CLA and GLA, both of which will also gain an AMG variant. there is also an A-Class saloon in the works, but its timeline of launch is not clear yet, or what markets it will be offered in.
