There is some controversy surrounding Mercedes-AMG’s new 45 model lineup, and most of it puts the spotlight on the price tag.
Earlier this week, the automaker announced details about the new 45 family and, with prices ranging between €56,228 and €66,283 ($64,368-$73,521) for the A45 and CLA 45 S Shooting Brake, respectively, in Germany, the new AMGs sure don’t come cheap.
Also Read: 2020 Mercedes-AMG A45 and CLA45 Detailed In Massive Gallery
The model starring in the following video is the four-door CLA 45 S, which will burn a €65,888 ($73,083) hole in your pocket in its home market. As standard, it packs a lot of gear, such as the dual-screen layout, sporty accents inside and out and the most powerful 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine in a production car ever.
With an output of 421 PS (415 HP / 310 kW) and 500 Nm (369 lb-ft) of torque that’s delivered to the 4Matic+ all-wheel drive system via an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, the CLA 45 S hits the 100 km/h (62 mph) mark in 4 seconds flat and maxes out at 270 km/h (168 mph).
Make no mistake: this is some serious performance that, not so long ago, was reserved for supercars costing many times as much as the top CLA, and the advances in chassis, safety systems and tire tech, along with AWD, make it much more easily accessible. So yes, this might still be a compact saloon, but when you factor in all of the above maybe it’s not that expensive after all.
In any case, that’s highly subjective anyway, and the focus on the clip right below is on the CLA 45 S being pushed hard on a twisty mountain road. We think you’ll find it does look very promising indeed.