Although a forbidden fruit in the New World, where the Affalterbach brand offers the CLA 45 instead, with its 382 hp (387 ps/285 kW) and 354 lb-ft (480 Nm) of torque, which takes four seconds flat to 60 mph (97 kph), the Mercedes-AMG A 45 S continues to dominate the mega hatch class overseas.
Without any mods, it can push to 62 mph (100 kph) in 3.9 seconds, aided by its 2.0L four-banger that kicks out 415 hp (421 ps/210 kW) and 369 lb-ft (500 Nm) of torque. Flat-out, it can do 168 mph (270 kph) and enjoys a 4Matic+ all-wheel drive system, uprated brakes, re-tuned chassis, and the usual sporty touches inside and out.
Mind you, numerous tuners can truly bring out the beast within the Mercedes-AMG A 45 S. We have covered quite a few tuned versions of this impressive hot hatch over the years, including one that bears Posaidon's signature. If you don't remember it, then you can click here to refresh your memory. Still, don't do that yet, as we are about to remind you just how fast it is.
At 3.4 seconds to 62 mph, this tuned Mercedes-AMG A 45 S is quicker than the legendary Ferrari Enzo. The aftermarket specialist has given it no fewer than 518 ponies (525 ps/386 kW) and has lifted the thrust to 465 pound-foot (630 Nm). The official spec sheet reveals a top speed of 201 mph (324 kph), so in theory, it can give a lot of blue-blooded exotics a run for their money in a straight-line acceleration test. All of this while packing a 2.0-liter engine under the hood.
But why revisit Posaidon's Mercedes-AMG A 45 S over three years after we first wrote about it? Because it was recently put to the test by AutoTopNL. The video you are about to watch is eight minutes long and is all about the driving part of this legendary build. Thus, there is no useless feedback coming from the guy holding the wheel, and that makes it even more exciting in our book. Hey, it's not like it's a brand-new car that needs reviewing, right?
Overall, this is a ride that has our attention, as the performance part is truly staggering from what is still a compact hatchback and one that can really scare older supercars. We dig most things about it, and we won't mention the build quality at all – even though we just did. The only major drawback is that the owner decided it would be funny to add some custom decals to the sides. Clearly, they have yet to grow up. But you can see what we're talking about in the video below. That said, enjoy!
After a series of unfortunate events put an end to Cristian's dream of entering a custom built & tuned old-school Dacia into a rally competition, he moved on to drive press cars and write for a living. He's worked for several automotive online journals and now he's back at autoevolution after his first tour in the mid-2000s. Full profile
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