Mercedes AMG A45 S 4Matic+ Plus

Key Information

- Sun Yellow Paint (£496)
- A45 S 'Plus' Model
- Including AMG Aerodynamic Package & Panoramic Glass Sunroof
- Mercedes Manufacturer's Warranty until April 2024
- 1 Owner From New
- UK Supplied

The old A45 was in a class of 2 or 3 along with the Audi RS3 and possibly the Golf R, these were hatchbacks that had managed to squeeze so much power from their little 2.0L engines that they had been forced to go 4-wheel drive or risk becoming unwieldy. You would be forgiven for thinking that these hatchbacks really didn't need any more power... Well that's evidently not how Mercedes saw it. Here we have a new and updated offering from Mercedes delivering a scarcely believable 415bhp from a totally reworked 2.0L inline-4, making it the most powerful series production engine, of this type, in the world. This engine has more power per litre than a Bugatti Chiron, quite an incredible feat!

This monstrous power unit is fed through an 8-speed dual clutch transmission to all four wheels with additional clutches at the rear allowing for power to be distributed to the wheel with most grip, all very clever. However, what if you wanted the car to move around and feel a bit more playful, after all this is a hot hatch, well Mercedes have that covered too with the new drift mode! In terms of styling updates the new A45 looks meaner, more planted and more focused than ever. Now donning the new Panamericana grille like the rest of the Mercedes AMG line up, these updates continue on the interior with the double 10.25" dash screens and more technology, gadgetry and gizmos than you can shake a stick at. Features such as Wireless Charging, Dual Bluetooth connectivity and Augmented Reality satellite navigation are in no short supply here.

The 'Plus' variant sits at the very top of the tree in terms of variants of the new A45, featuring a whole host of desirable options such as the AMG Aerodynamic Package, Panoramic Sunroof & Burmester Surround Sound System as standard. Overall, the new Mercedes AMG A45 S Plus reclaims its spot at the top in the German hot hatch arms race, let us see how Volkswagen and Audi respond in the coming years.