Mercedes-AMG are stepping up their game with the all-new A45 that’s currently in the development phase.
The super hot hatch will welcome a few major upgrades compared to the outgoing model, including a Drift mode, which was confirmed to journalists present at the 2018 Paris Auto Show by the AMG boss, Tobias Moers, reports CarAdvice.
“Okay, you can go sideways with it”, said the Affalterbach-based performance brand’s chief when asked about the then rumored Drift mode. The technology is expected to be controlled by a computer, just like in the larger E63, which should make drifting easy to anyone sitting behind the wheel.
Moers also revealed another novelty for the upcoming Mercedes-AMG A45: the addition of a dual-clutch eight-speed automatic transmission, unlike the current iteration and its seven-speed auto. “Yes, it’s a dual-clutch eight-speed. The A35 is a seven-speed, the 45 will have an eight-speed.”
The 4Matic permanent all-wheel drive will remain standard, and together with the tuned chassis, should make the A45 a peach around corners. “The chassis compared to today is unbelievable. We have various suspension in the car, and it’s an improvement in every perspective. There’s more comfort, more rigidity in every way, so we put a lot of effort into the body in white. There’s lots of reinforcement and it fits perfectly”, Tobias Moers added.
Power wise, the car will remain one of the kings of the segment, with more than 400 hp produced by a new turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. In a previous statement, the AMG boss said that every component of the powertrain is new and perfectly tuned, admitting that he’s “not a fan of over-powered cars”.
One final upgrade that will put more distance between the A45 and the regular models, in addition to the more aerodynamic exterior and extra work inside, will be the MBUX infotainment system. The feature will benefit from “a dedicated super sport kind of screen”, providing drivers with all the required performance information.
The ‘45’ moniker will make its way to the Sedan version of the new A-Class, too, which is the one coming to the United States. If recent reports turn out to be correct, then a more track-focused version of both cars, presumably named the Mercedes-AMG A45S or A50, will sit at the top of the range.