This new A 45 performance we put to full use on the Lausitzring, a track
that combines a banked oval with a twisty infield and is used in the
hugely popular DTM racing series.
you to vary the suspension and
steering behaviour (as well as
the engine’s throttle response)
between Eco, Comfort and
Sport, and there is also an “Individual” mode where you can
choose, say, a sporty engine
pick-up, a firm steering feel, and
comfortable ride.
The rest of the upgrades on the
car include new LED headlamps
and tail lights and styling revisions to the grille. And, importantly to the boy-racers amongst us,
the A 45 model gets an engine
upgrade from 265 to 280 kW, with
maximum torque increasing to
475Nm.
This new A 45 performance we
put to full use on the Lausitzring,
a track that combines a banked
oval with a twisty infield and is
used in the hugely popular DTM
racing series.
Talking of DTM, we had none other than Berndt Schneider, multiple champion, as our pace setter for our laps around the track,
Berndt being installed in a Mercedes-AMG GT to easily keep
ahead of the pack of A 45s following him.
During our stints on the tack we
revelled in the A45’s prowess,
now made more race-track orientated by the fitment of a special locking differential when
ordered with a special sporty
pack available in the A 45 catalogue. Coupled to the selection of a Race option in the Dynamic Select system, available
on the A 45, the handling is now
much more “pointy” than be-
fore, allowing a degree of oversteer to develop in mid-corner that is easily manageable
through the excellent steering
system, and, of course, the allwheel drive system.
to be released in January 2016,
less than four months away.
By Stuart Johnston
Out on the road, using “comfort” in the Dynamic Select system, the Mercedes-AMG is now
a much more driveable car in
bumpy situations. Performance
is, of course, rocket like with the
power increase. The 0-100km
time has been cut down to 4,2
seconds, and if you order the
optional AMG Driver’s Pack,
top speed rises from the standard, electronically-limited 250
to 270km/h.
The range line-up and
The up-grades to the A-Class series will be available in the near
future here. They are scheduled
A 45 AMG 4MATIC R683 600
An optional locking front differential has seen the A 45 become easier to pitch into a tail-out drift attitude.
The 7G Dual Clutch Transmission features revised gear ratios on the A 45 model
pricing will be as follows:
A 200
R389 200
A 200d
R419 200
A 220 D
R460 100
A 250 Sport
R491 500
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