Mercedes-Benz offers A45 AMG joyrides

The new Mercedes-Benz A Class is already a pleasing departure from conservatism for the three-pointed star. Handing the model over to its AMG skunkworks even more so. Reports say the A45 AMG will boast 350hp and a Haldex all-wheel drive system. But is it any good?

Piers Ward from Top Gear has been lucky enough to ride shotgun in an A45 prototype with Tobias Moers, AMG’s development boss. Ward said: “For starters, it sounds awesome. The typical AMG-burble is there when you lift off, and there’s no four-cylinder drone at any point. Hard-edged, enthusiastic. Good, in other words. Its 2.0-litre engine is pretty luridly turbocharged, ending up at 350bhp and 331lb ft (the figures are unconfirmed at the moment). Moers is also proud of the fuel consumption, which he says is about 40mpg, again unconfirmed.”

Apparently we can also expect two further AMG models to spawn from the A Class platform. Namely a CLA (refer to the F800 concept) and wagon/shooting brake variant.

Auto Express has also spent some time with Moers and are quoting the AMG man as saying: “Our target is to sell it for less than €50,000. We want it to cost slightly less than the Audi RS3.”

Moers goes on to tease us by suggesting the A45 AMG is better than a 1M around the Nürburgring. “We’ve been timing the A45 around the Nurburgring and the BMW 1 Series M Coupe was our benchmark,” he said. “Let’s just say we’re extremely happy with our work.”

We also expect Chris Harris may chime in soon with his opinion. We’ll let you know if he does.

[Source: Top Gear & Auto Express | Thanks to Adam for the tip]