The hot hatch rivalry between German car manufacturers BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi enters a new chapter with the introduction of the AMG A45 S. 

We drove the latest small Mercedes at its world launch in Spain last year and came away impressed by the 2.0-litre engine producing a massive 310kW and 500Nm. 

It has had petrol heads frothing at the mouth to see how it stacks up against the current crop 'super hatches'.

BMW's M2 Competition isn't a hatch but thrown in for good measure, Audi's RS3 Sportback sporting four-wheel-drive is there, and the final spot is filled by the least powerful car, Volkswagen's Golf R.  

The racing action takes place at around the 7:00min-mark, so skip ahead and see which car is fastest. 

WATCH |  Ultimate hot hatch drag race