The reviews for the all-new Mercedes-AMG A45 S are out from a special event organized by the manufacturer under Spain's blistering heat. Somehow, Carwow managed to record more interesting footage than everybody else, comparing all aspects of the hyper hatch to its predecessor, drawing the conclusion that big improvements have taken place.
First, let's get the numbers out of the way. Both cars feature 2.0-liter turbos, AWD and twin-clutch gearboxes. But the newer generation is heavier because of the more complex electronics. The post-facelift Mk1 A45 makes 381 HP and 475 Nm of torque. But the new one is a real monster: 421 HP and 500 Nm once you order the S version, which is the only one available in Britain.
Most of the time, the performance difference between two cars with the same size engine is pretty small, but that's not the case here. The classic model is timed from 0 to 60mph in 4.8 seconds while the new one does an amazing 3.9 seconds. Besides the 40 extra HP and such, the difference could be down to the superior reactions of the new 4Matic AWD.
We mustn't forget to talk about the drift mode. While the old A45 offered a limited-slip diff at the front axle for a couple of model years, 2020's big debut is drift mode via a box shuffling power between the two rear tires. Like the Focus RS, the actual drifting is a bit artificial, but being able to enjoy such a thing is pretty nice.
Speaking of things that are pretty nice, the interior is a big upgrade here, just like on the normal A-Class hatch. The original A45 felt outdated in this regard from the beginning, plus it has less room for its passengers and cargo. Mercedes engineers also managed to add a layer of driver engagement and even made it stop better. The only area where the 2020 A45 S falls short is exhaust sound. Those regulations... always ruining our fun.
Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida. Full profile
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