When Mercedes-Benz launched the original A 45 AMG, it put the hot hatch market on notice with blistering performance, eye-catching looks, and a load of advanced technologies.
At the recent Goodwood Festival of Speed, the second-generation A 45 was launched, and while we know it’s faster than its predecessor, is it actually better to drive?
To find out, CarWow pitted the new A 45 S against the old car for a series of performance tests at the global media launch of the new model.
Also Read: New Mercedes-AMG A 45 And CLA 45 Pack Supercar Performance In A Compact Body
The first test was, predictably, a drag race. Powering the original car is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder pumping out 376 HP and 350 lb-ft (475 Nm) of torque mated to an AMG Speedshift dual-clutch seven-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive, helping the car launch to 60 mph (96 km/h) in 4.8 seconds during CarWow’s test.
That’s fast, but the new A 45 S is noticeably quicker off the line, rocketing to 60 mph in just 3.9 seconds, almost a full second quicker than its predecessor.
The new car also performs better during a rolling race, thanks in part to its new transmission quickly changing down gears in automatic mode to provide the best possible acceleration. In the braking test, once again, the new A 45 S came to a stop quicker.
However, is the new car any more enjoyable to drive than the old one? Well, what do you think?