Mercedes-AMG A45 (W176) 2015-Present Photos, engines & full specs

Mercedes-AMG entered into the hot-hatch segment where it didn't belong, but it wanted to dominate with the presence of the A45 version.

Hatchbacks were usually desired by younger generations, who don't have the need for big trunks or plenty of room in the back. Moreover, the hot-hatch segment was contested usually only by mass-market brands such as Volkswagen, Honda, or Renault. Yet, after Audi made a fortune with the S3/RS3 vehicles, Mercedes-Benz thought that it could provide something for that too. And thus, it launched the A45 version, which was transformed into the Mercedes-AMG A45 in 2015.

The striking look of this compact-sized Mercedes was made to reflect the car's performance. At the front, the single-slat grille that supported the three-pointed star and the specific look of the AMG bumper were signs of a powerful vehicle. Moreover, the slightly enlarged wheel fenders and the sculptured door panels were studied in the wind tunnel. Last but not least, a wing placed on top of the tailgate expressed the car's will to race. To complete the sporty image, AMG installed 18" alloys with an option for a 19" set.

Inside, the carmaker combined expensive materials and a sport-oriented design. The sport seats with high-bolstered areas and the thick steering wheel confirmed the car's designation. One thing it couldn't be appropriately arranged, and that was the infotainment unit display mounted above the center stack, looking like aftermarket equipment.

From the technical point of view, the A45 shined with its 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four, which gained the coveted "International Engine of the Year" in 2014 and 2015 for the 1.8 to 2.0-liter class. Mercedes-AMG made the car with a standard seven-speed automatic transmission that sent the power in all corners. Moreover, a locking front differential was available as an option.