The unveiling of the latest AMG mega-hatch is imminent, but topping the original A 45’s astonishing power figure was something we thought Affalterbach would approach with caution. After all, the quickest version of the W176 already produced a heady 280kW from just 2.0-litres and four-cylinders. How much more bonkers could its successor be?
Plenty, as it turns out, as prior to Mercedes themselves having the chance to out the W177 A 45’s numbers, that information was leaked to the public via premature publication on HUK24’s website, a German insurance company. As of right now, the original page that displayed the new car’s specs are no longer accessible.
However, before it could be taken down, key information was able to be extracted. Specifically, that the A 45 will come in two varieties: the standard and a more potent A 45 S, a hierarchy much like many models in AMG’s portfolio. In vanilla tune, the ’45 produces slightly more than the outgoing car at 285kW while its bigger brother generates an unbelievable 309kW - both from the same 2.0-litre four-pot turbo motor.
That puts the Merc way ahead of the pack, though we have to wonder just how much over-engineering had to be poured into the engine development in order to produce such a massive amount of power from a displacement that small and still be daily-drive reliable as well as conform to all the emissions regulations out there.
If accurate, Mercedes-AMG would officially have the world’s most powerful production engine by specific output with roughly 155kW per litre or 77kW per cylinder. Naturally, that much power being distributed to all four wheels should make the new A 45 a very easy car to take sideways, as proven by a teaser film released by the automaker before Christmas 2018.
For more on Mercedes-AMG cars, check out our Showroom.
