AMG’s baby is getting an update for 2022 as a slightly camouflaged A45 test car was caught for the first time by our spy photographers testing on public roads.
Given the lack of camouflage, we’re expecting this update to be pretty minor, but the positioning suggests that the changes could have a meaningful impact. An obscured front fascia and rear lighting section suggests that the A45 could get a set of redesigned headlights and taillights as well as a reworked front bumper, which could make a difference to the car’s face.
Unfortunately, our photographers couldn’t capture the interior of the vehicle, where more changes might be bubbling under the surface. Whether or not the new hot hatch gets new materials or an improved infotainment system is still unknown, as is the state of the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine under the bonnet.
Read Also: The Mercedes-AMG A45 S Is Super-Fast, Freakishly Agile And Eye-Wateringly Expensive
Just how much more power the chassis can handle is another question. The Mercedes-AMG A45 already kicks out a hefty 415 HP (421 PS/309 kW) and 368 lb-ft (499 Nm) of torque in its top 45 S trim. That power is funneled through an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission and routed to all four wheels.
All of which is good enough to get it to 62 mph in just 3.9 seconds and onto a top speed of 167 mph. The performance is such that the hot hatch punches well above its weight. The A45 S makes more power than a Ferrari 360 Modena and has been clocked rounding the Nurburgring faster than a Lamborghini Murcielago.
Unfortunately, we don’t yet know when you should expect the updated model to drop but with the new Audi RS3 right around the corner, Mercedes-AMG isn’t going to wait that long.
