The new 2020 Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 S was put to the test again, this time on the German Autobahn at a no-speed-limit section, at full pace.
At the end of the video, the needle was pointing to 276 km/h (172 mph), slightly more than the official manufacturer quote of 270 km/h (168 mph), in the ‘S’ guise, and at 250 km/h (155 mph) for the 387 PS (382 HP / 285 kW) regular ‘45’ model lineup. Nought to 100 km/h (0-62 mph) is completed in 4 seconds flat.
Watch Also: Is The 2020 Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 S A Dream Car In A Small Package?
It comes with the 2.0-liter turbo’d mill, tuned to deliver a whopping 421 PS (415 HP / 310 kW) and 500 Nm (369 lb-ft) of torque for a four-pot. The engine works in conjunction with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and AMG-tuned all-wheel drive system, and is further assisted by the reinforced body, stiffer suspension and beefier brakes.
Drivers have six driving modes available at the push of a button: Comfort, Sport, Sport+, Slippery, Individual and Race. The S versions of the new 45 family come packed with the Drift mode, which can be engaged in ‘Race’, with the gearbox in manual mode and the ESP deactivated.
From a performance standpoint, the new CLA 45 S can indeed be considered a super ride in a small package, although it has one major drawback: price. In Germany, it starts from €65,688 ($73,254), while the long-roof 45 S Shooting Brake has a €595 ($664) premium. In the UK, the CLA 45 S Coupe can be had from £52,145 ($64,108) and the five-door is £1,425 ($1,752) more expensive.