Hyper hatch arms race: next Mercedes-AMG A45 will get 400bhp+ ~ station of gear

Mercedes-AMG chief confirms next-generation A45 AMG hyper hatch will get a four-cylinder engine with more than 400bhp

2015-07-02 10:55

The next-generation Mercedes-AMG A45 will get more than 400bhp, according to Tobias Moers, Chief Executive of Mercedes-AMG.

Speaking at the reveal of the updated Mercedes A-Class last week and after the brand revealed an all-new, more powerful AMG-A45, Moers also confirmed the next generation car will get an all-new four-cylinder engine.

He told us that despite the recent power increase from 355bhp to 376bhp, it is not possible to extract more horse power from the current turbocharged engine. However, with the super-quick Volkswagen Golf R 400 on the way, it’s only a matter of time before Mercedes counter with something even more explosive.

Moers said: “It is important for our customers to have the most powerful car in the segment." However, Mercedes won’t simply install a bigger turbo or rejig the ECU, with Moers commenting: “To us, it is important to offer the whole package”.

While Nurburgring lap times have dominated the headlines in recent months, a new circuit-wide ban will put a halt on official manufacturer time tests. But that didn’t stop Moers hinting this new A45 could get round the 12.9-mile track in less than eight minutes – putting it on a par with the SEAT Leon Cupra 280, and at least 10 seconds faster than the outgoing A45 AMG.

To our surprise, he also hinted that Mercedes was not yet considering electrification or hybrid power for its top-spec AMG models. Using BMW’s six-cylinder M-cars as an example, Moers asked us why Mercedes would consider dropping the V8 C63, “when it is within one or two mpg of lesser rivals.”

The visual changes made to Merc’s standard A-Class will make their way onto the CLA and GLA next year, with both models getting the uprated AMG engines in the coming months, too.

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Richard Ingram

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