The upcoming Mercedes-AMG A45 S is going to up the ante for compact hot hatches considerably. We’re pretty sure the competition won’t leave Merc have the niche on its own – but what if you want that kind of performance from your hot hatch, but can’t/won’t wait or pay their asking prices?
If you own a Volkswagen Golf R Mk7, the answer comes from HGP-Turbo, which will seriously boost the output of your ride and won’t charge a fortune for it either.
The German tuner has modified several components of the 2.0-liter turbocharged four powering the outgoing Golf R, while also adding a stainless steel exhaust system. The result is simply stunning: a max output of 480 PS (473 hp / 353 kW) at 6,300 rpm and 615 Nm (454 lb-ft) of torque, at 4,500 rpm, or 170 PS (168 hp / 125 kW) and 215 Nm (159 lb-ft) of more than the facelifted version from the pre-WLTP era.
Also Watch: VW Golf R Gets Pumped Up To 470 HP, Takes On BMW M3 And Mercedes-AMG A45
According to HGP-Turbo’s own data, the German hot hatch can sprint to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.2 seconds and 200 km/h (124 mph) in 10.8 seconds. This means that you’ll not only put the new AMG A45 S in its corner, but you’ll end up humiliating hordes of much posher sports cars as well. For the ultimate experience, the tuner has also removed the speed limiter, so the car now exceeds the 270 km/h (168 mph) v-max of the optional Performance Pack that was previously available.
For the engine mods, HGP-Turbo’s charging €9,900 ($11,082), plus another €1,700 ($1,903) for installation. Depending on what gearbox your Golf R has, you’ll end up spending an extra €1,800 ($2,015) for reinforcing the stick shift, €2,200 ($2,463) for the 6-speed DSG or €2,900 ($3,246) for the 7-speed DSG. Prices include tax and are for the German market.