MERCEDES-AMG is set to once again rewrite the hot-hatch rulebook. revealing the all new A45 and its four-door twin, the CLA45, at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The original A45 redefined what a hot hatch could be in terms of power. peed, cornering ability and price. but AMG has left no stone unturned in developing its successor to an even higher level. promising supercar-scaring speed, greater comfort and Drift Mode.
It seems sensible to start at the engine. given the new 45,1991cc 139 turbo four-pot spits out an incredible 56k W/litre Overseas markets will offer base versions with 225kW/420film. but M-B Australia bas confirmed it will only take the higher-spec .5. models Producing 310kW/500d1rn. capable of sprinting to 100krn/h in 3.9sec in A45 guise. the CLA adding 0.1sec to that. Top spe. M 270km/h. To extract these remarkable numbers from such unremarkable capacity. AMG literally perform. a 0 on the M260 fou. the A35. flipping engine so that the turbo and exhaust manifold nestle against the firewall and the intake sits up front. This not only improves aero by keeping the nose lower. but also shortens the intake paths to spool the turbo up quicker.
The turbo itself is a twin-scroll design with roller bearings on the compressor and turbine wheels - tech nicked from the GT63 S - to reduce friction, and it spins to 169.00Orpro. tt delivers a massive 2.1bar (30.2ps0 of boost, which would blow a regular engine apart.
The all-aluminium closed-deck crankcase contains a forged steel crankshaft the pistons are forged aluminum. the cylinders are coated in an iron-carbon alloy using Mem, patented Nanoslide technology, and a baffled sump ensures adequate lubrication during high-g loadings.
This new engine revs much harder than the previous Arlibis. which produced its peak or 80kW at 600orpro and maximum torque from 2250-500Orpro. with a 25Orpro 300Orpredlino That redline now shirts to ro. the new dibs producing 310. at 675Orpro and 500Nrn at a high 5000-5250rom. Such peaks suggest massive turbo lag. but Al,. claims the torque curve has been carefully 'shaped. to deliver the progressiveness of an atmo engine. new eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox debuts, but of more interest is a departure from the traditional Naldex-style all-wheel drive of their predecessors. the front-biased layout majoring on traction and stability but unable to deliver ultimate driving thrills.
The latest 4MATICt system incorporates a pair of electrrt mechanically controlled multi-plate discs in the rear dB, to allow independent of of the torque being sent to each side. Overpower the outside rear wheel and. 'Hey presto Drift Mode.There are six drive modes - Slippery. omfort. Sport, Sport Plus. Race and the customisable Individual - which alter the powertran response, steering weight, stiffness of the three-mode adaptive dampers and characteristics of the 4MARC system. This has a further four settings - Basic (stable). Advanced (neutral), ro (more neutral) and Master (Slight overrteerk
Suspension is MacPherson strut front and four-link r.r, and the S models use larger 360rnm front discs and six-piston calipers supported by 330mm discs and single-piston calipers at the rear. Identifying an A45 should be easy thanks to The 12 vertical louvres in the grille. wider front guards and gaping SOrnm exhaust tips.
Inside is an Alcantara-wrapped AMC Performance wheel. racy Perfomance seats and flash twin instrument/ infotainment screens controlled by Merc's laThst MBUX system. Expect a . 020 local arrival. with pricing to be confirmed closer to that time.
No comments: