Test: Mercedes-AMG A45 - Only one smokes here!

Steam without smoke

Lausitzring: First test of the 381 PS golf club

191 PS from a liter of displacement. As the AMG derivative “A45”, the A-Class has a displacement of two liters. Produces an impressive 381 hp total output. I'm being completely honest. When I drove the AMG model, which was freshly presented at the time and was quite rough, over two years ago, I was skeptical about how durable the then “strongest” production engine would be. Back then it was 360 hp. A lot of wood in this segment. AMG only briefly let the Audi RS 3 (367 hp) take away the crown of the most powerful compact sports car. The fact that it required one more cylinder and half a stein more displacement is no longer important. With the “fresh treatment” for the A-Class, AMG has given another boost. And Tobias Moers couldn’t help but smile at the premiere: “There was still room for improvement.” And the fact that the engines all hold up shows that he is right.

Driving report: With the A45 AMG at the Lausitzring

More of everything

The A-Class also received a slim optical facelift as the AMG. The large ventilation openings in the front bumper are striking, and the neatly fitted tailpipes in the newly curved rear apron. The post-pubescent rear wing has been preserved, but does not have to be - it is part of the AMG aerodynamics package. This also includes large flics on the front and the much larger front splitter. A powerful look and Mercedes promises that even brings downforce. Well - in the end it remains an A-Class, probably neglecting the downforce in everyday life - before that there is a risk of expensive repairs on every curb.

Any color as long as it's red! 

The color of the test car is called Jupiter red and, together with the black attachments and rims, this is the only legitimate color for an 381 PS berserker in the golf segment.

Pressure & traction

Dirt spewing from the exhaust pipe, just starting the A45 announces its desired dominance. There is no negotiation here for seconds or podium places. The claim to the winner's trophy is manifested in the genes of the smallest AMG. All A45s clutch automatically and can be flipped through the 7-speed DCT as if the Almighty were after them. Mercedes calls Dynamic Select one of three important new features of the A45, alongside the 21 hp adrenaline injection. The button in the center console serves as a “red button” to “arm” the Affalterbach surface-to-surface missile. With this button you can, among other things, adjust number 2 on the list of innovations: the newly offered adaptive dampers. The re-sharpening and seasoning of the steering, the engine characteristics and the transmission switching philosophy round off the idea of ​​“Dynamic Select” and its effect on the occupants.

Number 3 of the most important innovations is the optional front axle differential. Moment. The A45 AMG has 4matic, i.e. the Mercedes all-wheel drive on board. Why a differential lock?

Due to the system, the hang-on all-wheel drive in the small Mercedes classes requires at least a quarter of a turn of wheel slip on the front axle before the rear axle is also responsible. And anyone who hits the front axle with 2.250 Nm from 475 revolutions will always get this wheel slip. With the new transverse lock, AMG is now eliminating the last “loopholes” and the strengthened A45 stubbornly pulls itself out of the curve.

The wide curves of the Lausitzring also make rough motorists happy at the accelerator. At the narrower corners, the cross lock now helps convert pressure to speed, without smoke from the wheel arches.

Drama queen without need

The fact that the Lausitzring test cars had to be reinforced with overlapping wings with the optical penis-like comparison hides a shot of extra drama for the photos. The simple talent of A45 does not need such onomatopoeia.

The performance manufactory of the Daimler people has with that A-Class update The A45 was also refilled, although everyone was sure that the mug was already full to the brim. 21 hp more correctly represent the pecking order in the compact class again, the differential lock makes up for the notch of the half-baked all-wheel drive and the adaptive dampers allow the hot-blooded car to master everyday commutes with less drama. The driving comfort in the “comfort mode” of the Drive Select has improved significantly. And then there are the detailed changes in the interior on top of that: with the finer displays in the cockpit, the possibility of finally properly integrating the iPhone via CarPlay and the even greater - but still not to be operated via touch - The display makes you feel particularly well cared for here.

The prices have already advanced to painful regions! Base price of the A45 AMG: € 51.051,00 - at least the AMG Dynamic Plus package with the front axle lock and the adaptive dampers add up to € 2.618 and the AMG Drivers Package with the increase to 270 km / h for € 2.261. You can also treat yourself to the performance exhaust system for € 773,50 and the performance seats for € 2.142 are also not a stupid idea. And then the Comand online system for € 3.51,50 ... you can see where this is going.

In the end only one smoked:

I.

But only for the photo. Smoking not only damages traction, it also damages health. And if this A-Class should already have a warning sticker, then with this text: Warning: The use of 381 Stuttgarter-PS in the golf segment can lead to irritation of the lacrimal glands in Ingolstadt and Wolfsburg.

Conclusion: steam pressure boiler without smoke!

Link tip: How does it work with the Apple CarPlay in the A-Class?

The vehicle registration document for the A-Class as Mercedes-AMG A45