2020 Mercedes-AMG A45 4Matic Has Similar Design to CLS 53

But just like Mercedes seems to be steering away from V8s, so too is the German carmaker getting rid of the square tips. This is the latest sighting of the next-generation A45, which is likely to debut during the first half of 2019.

It's been testing for a long time and was spotted in many configurations. But this one has the Panamericana grille from the big-boy AMGs and four round tips integrated into oblong bumper cutouts. This look is immediately recognizable from the CLS 53, which famously uses a hybrid 3-liter instead of the V8 we all expected.

Of course, the A45 won't have just one look, as both normal and A45 S versions have been partially confirmed, the latter expected to have over 400 horsepower from the most fantastic hybrid 2-liter powertrain in the world. But that means extra aero (winglets on the bumper and a spoiler at the back).

The CLA 45 successor was also spied several months ago with this design look and a fake air intake on the left side. Something else we don't like is the steady increase in prices for all Mercedes-AMG models. You can get the 300 horsepower A35 from €47,500 in Germany, and that just doesn't seem right. This implies that the A45 will easily reach 80k with the right options.

In their minds, Mercedes are aiming these new AMG models straight at Porsche buyers, but that segment is pretty small. And even though the Stuttgart prancing horse has made the mistake of adopting four-cylinder turbo engines, the RWD Cayman is always going to be a better investment than a hot hatch.