Whether you are driving through Sandton City or the busy streets of down-town Johannesburg, your Mercedes is bound to turn heads. This is what you can expect when you've got your hands on the steering wheel of a finely-tuned elegant machine.
However, there is a new breed of car emerging, something which carries the brutish musk of power and speed, but with a strikingly vicious beauty. These are the "super-hot hatches".
The latest version of the Mercedes-Benz A-class A45 AMG is definitely one of the top contenders in this group, and with the speed and power it boasts of, it may just flip your head the full 360 degrees as it cruises by.
This newly face-lifted Mercedes is impressive, but it is up against some very tough contenders. The RS3 has impressive clout, as well as the soon-to-be-launched Ford Focus RS and Honda Type R hot hatch cars. This new generation of Hatchbacks are redefining the context of the Super Car with their all-new, ferocious looks, but what do they boast under all that make up?
The Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG boasts a powerful turbocharged 2.0 litre engine, which is able to unleash a peak output of up to 280 kW, which is nothing to scoff at. It has a four-wheel drive system and reaches maximum speeds of approximately 250km/h, and is also capable of accelerating from 0-100km/h in just 4.2 seconds.
Such a hot hatch has few natural predators, especially when it comes to straight line performance. The Merc in question comes with an integrated 'Launch Assist,' which allows the car to rocket down the road at an even faster pace from stand still, distributing all that horsepower through its four- wheel drive system.
Mercedes-Benz has placed great emphasis on making this model more efficient when it comes to fuel economy and emissions. This allows for more power and less fuel consumption, which is one less thing that anybody would want to complain about. The car also includes a suspension system which demonstrates more stability, steering control and better response for the driver, when hitting those sharp corners on the road. All you need is to simply press a button and you have access to its "DYNAMIC SELECT" system which allows you to optimise its internal environment and performance to suit your personal needs.
This supercar-slaying car is also looking towards the future as it extends it capacity for smartphone compatibility allowing the driver to access their phone's functionalities such as listening to music, sending and receiving messages, which minimizes the risk of getting distracted while travelling in this formidable machine.
Breathtaking Aesthetics
It's near impossible to miss the Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG, because it is just that good looking. The standard A-Class appears softer and more approachable, but this model screams intimidation. It showcases a "twin blade" radiator grill, allowing it to take in large amounts of air, enabling optimal engine cooling whilst driving.
It also comes with double, square-shaped exhaust pipes and the classic "AMG" badge on its rear - just to be that little extra bit cheekier. The interior hosts a range of features from the multi-functional steering wheel, to hand-made seats and dynamic shift paddles. This car has so many customizable options that you may find yourself in a daze trying to force yourself to make a final decision.
Mercedes-Benz has managed to create a machine which is so powerful and dynamic that the only justifiable name for it can be the "Super-hot Hatchback". They have developed a car which appeals to younger audiences, and slightly strays away from their traditional target market.
The A45 AMG Merc flaunts its power, placing it in the same parade as some of the traditional 'Super Cars' to which we have become accustomed; such as the Audi R8 Coupé 4.2 FSI® V8 quattro® with its bold aesthetics and larger-than-life engine. This Audi's 4.2 litre V8 allows the super car to blast to 100km/h in 4.6 seconds, while the Mercedes A45's relatively small 2.0 litre engine allows rocket to 100k/h in 4.2 seconds.
These "Super-hot Hatches" are compact powerhouses, devouring the roads they tread on. The drivers of these machines can expect an exciting experience behind the wheel with all the control in the world provided by the excellence and craftsmanship of visionary companies such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, Ford, Subaru and Honda.
Source: www.mercedes-benz.co.za
www.autotrader.co.za
www.topspeed.com
www.audi.co.za
