The wraps have started to come off the second-gen
AMG A45, as Merc’s uber hatch is entering the final stages of testing. Spied in action at the
Nurburgring by Instagram user DCNCars, the 2020 AMG A45 has minimal camouflage
that tries to hide the front and rear fascias. Even so, it’s easy to discern
that the styling is sportier compared to the AMG A35, as the A45 features a
different grille with vertical slats, a substantial roof spoiler and quad exhaust
tips.
AMG engineers have also refined the suspension,
brakes and handling, so the car is expected to behave better compared to its
predecessor. Moreover, it will also be one of the quickest hot hatches in the
market, if not THE quickest, with reports talking about a massive 415
horsepower produced by the 2.0-liter turbo-four in the top-of-the-line S model,
and 383 hp in the “base” version.
Because of the extra oomph, aerodynamic updates and
a small weight loss, the new AMG A45 will be quicker than the outgoing one,
which requires 4.2 seconds to complete the 0-100 km/h acceleration
and has a top speed electronically limited at 250 km/h.
There’s no word on when the all-new A45 will
be unveiled. According to previous reports, we could be looking at a late
summer presentation, before seeing it in the flesh at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor
Show in the second week of September.