Test drive Mercedes-AMG A45
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Test drive Mercedes-AMG A45

The most powerful four-cylinder engine in history and breathtaking dynamics. A new generation Mercedes-AMG A45 hatchback, which is ready to become a supercar, goes to Russia

Even at the initial stages of development, this project began to acquire myths. It was rumored that Mercedes-AMG was testing not just the next generation A45 hatchback, but some kind of "Predator" with an incredible engine. The recoil of the magadotor will exceed the 400 hp mark, which will help the novelty to become the fastest car in its class.

So, most of these rumors turned out to be true, and only the brutal name "The Predator" the Germans rightly did not spread beyond the prototype stage. Now the serial hot hatch of the new generation in the company is called a slightly less aggressive supercar in the compact class. In this definition, some notes of pomp can still be read, but the guys from Affalterbach have every right to do so.

Test drive Mercedes-AMG A45

This is because the new Mercedes-AMG A45 S gains “one hundred” in just 3,9 seconds, leaving behind not only all its classmates, but also, for example, more serious cars like the Porsche 911 Carrera. Moreover, the claimed acceleration to 100 km / h in the novelty corresponds to the parameters of a 600-horsepower Aston Martin DB11, and he laughs openly in the face of the famous supercars from the past.

Sensation number two: in the womb of the AMG A45 S is not an elephant-like V12 at all, but a two-liter supercharged "four", developing 421 hp. and 500 Nm of torque. Once again: the Germans remove more than 400 forces from two liters of volume. True, in the standard version, the hot hatch engine produces 381 hp. and 475 Nm, however, only variants with the “S” index and the top engine will be sold in Russia.

Test drive Mercedes-AMG A45

In 2014, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution had an anniversary version with a 446-horsepower two-liter engine, but such a sedan came out in a frivolous edition of only 40 copies, which were released exclusively for the British market. So we can safely say that the Mercedes-Benz AMG A45 S has the most powerful production four-cylinder unit in the world at the moment.

The Germans got the most out of the new engine without any electric turbines, small auxiliary motors or batteries. The 16-valve power unit of the new AMG A45 S, as in the case of the A35 version, is installed transversely, but at the same time rotated around its axis by 180 degrees. This is done so that the twin-flow turbine and exhaust manifold are at the rear and the intake at the front. This design helped to create an aerodynamically tuned front end design and ultimately reduce supercharger delays.

For the first time, AMG engineers decided to install roller bearings on the compressor and turbine shafts. The technology, borrowed from the AMG GT's four-liter V8 engine, reduces friction inside the supercharger and improves its response. The cooling system is also not so simple: a mechanical water pump cools the cylinder head, and the block itself cools down thanks to an electrically driven water pump. Finally, even the air conditioning system is involved in the cooling process of the unit.

The engine is paired with an eight-speed robotic gearbox with two clutches and delivers traction to all wheels through an electronically controlled clutch. Two more of these stand in the rear axle gearbox and give up to 100% of the thrust to one of the rear wheels. This not only improved the cornering process, but also added a special drift mode.

Test drive Mercedes-AMG A45

If you want to give an angle, you need to move the controller to the "Race" mark, turn off the stabilization system, put the box in manual mode and pull the paddle shifters towards you. After that, the electronics will go into a special mode of operation and allow the car to go into a controlled skid. The front axle remains working and allows you to instantly switch to a set of speed after the end of the slides.

In total, the car has six driver modes, and in each of them, the electronics distribute traction, taking into account the speed, angle of rotation of the wheels, longitudinal and lateral accelerations. Thanks to this, the car condescendingly forgives the mistakes that inevitably arise in the driver, who for the first time in his life went to the race track. In our case - on the ring of the former Formula 1 "Jarama" track near Madrid. You get used to the intricacies of turns and an abundance of hairpins instantly, constantly increasing the pace and getting more and more doses of adrenaline.

Test drive Mercedes-AMG A45

But this is not the case in the city. One has only to press down on the accelerator, as four 90-mm pipes begin to shoot a booming symphony, and a flashing icon on the head-up display reminds that the speed limit has been exceeded within a couple of seconds after the start. At low speed, the car behaves with slight nervousness, but if you are even a little late with braking in front of an unevenness, you immediately get a solid kick under the tailbone.

But there are a number of reasons why the Mercedes-AMG A45 S can be called an urban hatchback. Its 370-liter luggage compartment will fit much more than a croquet set, and rear passengers don't have to rest their knees on their chin to fill the space between the seatbacks.

The interior as a whole, at a cursory glance, could generally be confused with a donor car, if not for the sports steering wheel with a sloping lower segment, borrowed, again, from the AMG GT. Before your eyes are two huge displays of the MBUX multimedia complex, which at first glance may seem overly complicated, since the main monitor with speedometer and tachometer alone has seven different configurations.

17 different buttons and switches were stuck on the steering wheel, but in order to turn off, for example, the lane departure assistant, you will have to pretty much dig into the menu of the media system. In general, you can find a lot of amazing things there. For example, a lecture on relaxing breathing exercises, which the system will deliver in a pleasant female voice. Or the function of adjusting the seats to ensure correct blood flow so that your back and legs do not get tired on long trips. Isn't it a car for every day?

Test drive Mercedes-AMG A45

The Mercedes-AMG A45 S will reach Russia in September, and with it the soplatform "charged" coupe-sedan CLA 45 S. Later, the lineup will be replenished with the CLA Shooting Brake station wagon and the GLA crossover. Perhaps, no one has ever had such a large family of small, but very fast cars.

Body typeHatchbackSedan
dimensions

(length, width, height), mm
4445/1850/14124693/1857/1413
Wheelbase, mm27292729
Curb weight, kg16251675
Cargo space, l370 – 1210 Feet470
engine's typeGasoline, turbochargedGasoline, turbocharged
Working volume, cubic meters cm19911991
Power, hp with. at rpm421/6750421/6750
Max. cool. moment,

Nm at rpm
500 / 5000-5250500/5000-5250
Transmission, driveRobotic 8-speed fullRobotic 8-speed full
Max. speed km / h270270
Acceleration 0-100 km / h, s3,94,0
Fuel consumption

(city, highway, mixed), l
10,4/7,1/8,310,4/7,1/8,3
Price from, USDn. d.n. d.

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