Not available in the United States, the A 45 is the world's most powerful hatchback. The 45 series kicked off with the W176 from 2013, which packed a massive 376 horsepower and 350 pound-feet (475 Nm) from a displacement of 2.0 liters. Available in two flavors, the W177 is even spicier.
Mercedes-AMG A 45 S 4MATIC+ is the full name of the world's punchiest hatchback. Its four-cylinder turbo develops 416 horsepower at 5,800 revolutions per minute and 369 pound-feet (500 Nm) at 3,000 revolutions per minute. Codenamed M139, said mill features mild-hybrid assistance in the C 43 and SL 43. For the C 63 and GLC 63, the mad professors at AMG level up to a plug-in hybrid setup.
Pictured at the Aldo Scribante circuit in South Africa, the gray A 45 S 4MATIC+ in the video below is much lighter than its challenger. The challenger in question comes in the form of the Audi RS 6 Avant Performance, a twin-turbo V8 longroof with 463 kW and 850 Nm to its name.
That's 630 ps or 621 hp and 627 pound-feet of torque from a displacement of 4.0 liters. The RS 6 Avant Performance weighs in the ballpark of 2,090 kilograms or 4,608 pounds, making it eight kilos lighter than its predecessor. Audi saved weight by reducing the sound-insulating materials under the hood, inside, and at the rear of the vehicle.
Audi claims 3.4 seconds to 100 kilometers per hour (62 miles per hour) as opposed to 3.9 clicks for the A 45 S 4MATIC+, which features a pretty different all-wheel-drive system from the Torsen-style quattro of the RS 6 Avant Performance. Given the aforementioned numbers, the A 45 S 4MATIC+ doesn't stand a chance in a quarter-mile drag race.
Photo: CAR on YouTube
South Africa's CAR Magazine confirmed it at Aldo Scribante, with the RS 6 Avant Performance making easy work of the hatchback. Even so, the A 45 S 4MATIC+ launched marginally better.
The W177 may be the final ICE-only A 45 as Mercedes-AMG pivots to electrified performance for its entire lineup. We also have to remember that Merc's Concept CLA Class will soon become a reality on the Mercedes Modular Architecture, which will underpin compact models exclusively.
Over at Audi, the Volkswagen Group-based automaker will rename the combustion-engined RS 6 into the RS 7 in the near future. The RS 6 designation won't be retired, though, because there's a zero-emission RS 6 in the works on the Premium Platform Electric of the second-gen Porsche Macan.
Similar to the 2025 model year BMW M5, the RS 7 will combine its predecessor's twin-turbo V8 with a plug-in hybrid system for 700-plus horsepower. The RS 4's combustion-engined successor has also been spied with plug-in assistance. Coming in 2025 for model year 2026, the newcomer will be dubbed RS 5 Avant because Audi belives that even numbers are better suited for zero-emission vehicles.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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