Not all hatchbacks are for families; some are meant to be "Hot Hatches," a high-performance alter ego of hatchbacks with sportier appeal and a stronger engine designed to offer pure fun and performance.
While the market offers several high-performance hatchbacks, the Mercedes-AMG A45 S reserves a special spot at the pinnacle of the market. From being deluxe inside and out to having the most powerful four-cylinder engine, the Mercedes-AMG A45 S is presently the fastest and among the most premium hatchback in the market.
It is capable of giving nightmares to most sports cars and, of course, muscle cars. However, American muscle cars presently need not worry because this behemoth isn't sold in the US, and Mercedes-AMG hasn't yet revealed a word regarding its launch.
The 2022 Mercedes-AMG A45 S is sold in the UK with a base price of £63,140. Unfortunately, this German marvel isn't sold in the US, and don't ask why! But when it reaches American soil, we'd love to watch it compete against the muscle cars with a bowl of popcorn. Until then, here's why we think this hot hatch is a muscle car in a veil of a hatchback.
Mercedes-AMG A 45 S Is A Hatchback With Muscle Car Spirit
Inside the A 45 S lies something special: the handcrafted, newly developed M139 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine equipped with a highly advanced 169,000 rpm twin-scroll turbocharger and an 8-speed AMG Speedshift DCT automatic gearbox powering all four wheels.
The engine also has advanced features like special turbocharger roller bearings, a higher charge pressure of 2.1 bars, a chill-cast aluminum crankcase, and nanoslide-coated cylinder liners that bring the best out of the engine.
All these help the 2.0-liter turbo inline-four best out 421 horsepower at a screaming 7,200 rpm and 368 lb-ft of twist between 5,000 and 5,250 rpm, making it the meanest four-cylinder to date. With this sheer power inside, the A45 S takes a brisk 3.7 seconds to run to 60 mph and needs just 11.8 seconds to cover the quarter mile. A nightmarish number for most supercars and muscles.
How Does The Mercedes-AMG A45 S Perform Against American Muscle Cars?
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Now we can answer your question. Well, the results are shocking and something you wouldn’t have expected if we hadn’t put the numbers in a single picture. The 2022 Ford Mustang EcoBoost Fastback (base) priced at $27,770 comes equipped with a larger 2.3-liter turbocharged inline-four engine and a rear-wheel drive system. Although the engine of the Mustang is bigger by 0.3 liters, it still offers 310 horses and 350 lb-ft because its engine can produce maximum power at 5,500 rpm.
With lower power and torque, the base Mustang takes 4.8 seconds for 0–60 mph and 13.3 seconds for the quarter mile. The similarly priced range-topping Shelby GT500, however, hits hard with a 5.2-liter supercharged V8 engine producing 760 hp, pushing it to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds and a quarter-mile in 11.5 seconds.
Next, the base 2022 Chevy Camaro is offered for $28,990 and is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine with a rear-wheel-drive system and an 8-speed automatic gearbox. The base Camaro offers 275 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque and can reach 0-60 mph in 5.1 seconds. It takes 13.6 seconds to reach the quarter mile.
The $69,990 flagship Camaro ZL1 offers a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 engine equipped with an 8- or 10-speed gearbox, producing 650 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque. The ZL1 takes 3.5 seconds for the 0–60 mph acceleration and 11.5 seconds for a quarter-mile run.
The Dodge Charger, unlike the other American muscle cars, is sold in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive models. However, the starting price is higher at $32,645 for the base SXT model, which has the 3.6-liter V6 with an eight-speed automatic gearbox putting out 292 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque.
The similarly priced Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody tops the list with the 6.2-liter supercharged HEMI V8 SRT engine capable of producing 717 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque, with which it easily tops from 0 to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds and needs 11.8 seconds for the quarter-mile run.
MPG Figures & Handling Are Where The Mercedes-AMG A45 S Impresses
The AMG A45 S’ turbo four-cylinder not only employs a turbocharger to ensure better mileage alongside power but is also designed with a two-stage fuel injection system that ensures a superb mileage of 26.7 MPG combined. It packs a 17.4-gallon fuel tank that serves up to 464 combined miles.
In comparison, the Ford Mustang EcoBoost Fastback returns 24 MPG combined and has a 16-gallon fuel tank, offering around 384 combined miles. The Chevrolet Camaro provides 22 MPG combined and 418 miles of range with its 19-gallon tank. The Dodge Challenger’s V6 offers 23 MPG combined and 425 miles of range with an 18.5-gallon tank.
Mercedes-AMG has equipped the A45 S with best-in-class mechanicals so that it can put the high power to use. The A45 S comes standard with the AMG Driver’s Package, which increases the top speed to 168 mph for a thrilling experience.
To ensure the driver gets pre-tailored driving dynamics for different conditions, the system also offers the AMG Dynamic Select function, which consists of different drive modes and a custom drive mode for preference-based settings. The chassis is coupled with the best-in-class AMG Ride Control suspensions to keep the car stabilized at high speeds and offer flawless driving dynamics.
The standard ventilated disc brakes with four-piston red calipers stop the AMG A45 S from 60 feet in just 102 feet. Whereas the American muscles need significantly longer to stop. The Ford Mustang stops at 121 feet, while the Dodge Charger needs 112 feet, followed by the Chevy Camaro at 111 feet. Hence, the AMG A45 S not only impresses with its power but also has great handling and safety.
Source: Mercedes-Benz