Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG

Now I had to admit that this isn't a WRX STi, which is not due until next year and this wasn't even a Subaru because this one's German and expensive. This is a Mercedes-Benz hatchback suitable for those who are rich enough to ditch their Scoobys and Evos. This is the new A45 AMG...

2014 Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG

So, what exactly is this new kid on the block doing on the Mercedes-AMG range which consists of hardcore models that came from the skunk works of AMG? Well, what they did on the current-generation A-Class is inject it with a newly developed M133 2.0L twin turbo engine, which is known to be the most powerful series production four-cylinder turbo engine in the world, add some AMG DNA on it, and then slap some four-wheel drive on it, which makes the A45 AMG the millionaire boy racer's take on Subaru's WRX STi and Mitsubishi Lancer Evo because both of them are four-wheel drive?

Okay, so how does it compare to those four-wheel drive kamikazees? Of course because those guys have 2.0L turbo engines but while the Evo and the STi produces over 300PS of power, the A45 develops 360PS of power, which is almost 60 more than those JDM 4WD samurais and in a middle of a drag race, the A45 bids sayonnara to those because 0-100kph time for the A45 is 4.6 seconds while top speed is normally limited to 255kph or when the A45 AMG comes with a AMG Performance Package, the limit is raised to 270 km/h.

So, yes, while this car is more powerful than the Evo and the STi, let's not forget, this was made for the millionaire boy racers because it costs more than both of these Japanese 4WD cars. 49,683 Euros to be exact so it's not what you called cheap but it's priced on the same sort of price bracket as a Mercedes-Benz C350 BlueEfficiency so if you had to choose one, either that or an ordinary C-Class. Surprisingly, this is much more expensive than the xDrive version of BMW's M135i, in case you forgot.

2014 Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG interior

So, while the A45 AMG is the performance-oriented version of the A-Class because it's always the driver-centered car made for the unnecessary selfies in mind, how about what is like to be as a driver's car? Judging from the interior, it feels like it's been messed up by someone goes by the name "Mabel" or "Sable" and look at the screen. It's so small, even for a man with a spectacles can't see the directions from its sat-nav. Also, the seats aren't very lovely to sit, it's like seating in a sofa with a tag on it. And then, the seatbelts are colored red. I mean, Imagine if you're in an expensive suit. The whole formal wear's been ruined by the color of the red seats but it's not all bad if you're in casuals and not on the color that contrasts the color of the seatbelt. The more you know.

On the track, the A45's four-wheel drive provides great traction and it is as good as a Lancer Evolution, making it a very sharp car for the track days but on the normal roads, it's not quite as civilized as an executive saloon car. Being a hot hatch that is made to be usable for everyday use, the A45 wasn't quite ripe for this stint because it's still as angry as Groundskeeper Willie from The Simpsons and (sigh) as horrible as eating haggis.

Despite the downside, the A45 AMG is an accessible one because from now on, you can now have an AMG that is a lot more fun for a whole lot less.

Available colors: Zirrusweiss, Kosmosschwarz, Jupiterrot, Mountaingrau, Mountaingrau Magno, Monolithgrau, Nachtschwarz, Nordlichtviolett, Polarsilber, Sudseeblau, and Universumblau.

Photo: Mercedes-Benz