First it was called the A25 AMG, then word hit the 'net via a German publication that it would shift to the A45. Now, reality has set in and thanks to our friends across the pond, we've got the real scoop.
EVO Magazine is reporting that Mercedes-Benz's long-awaited A-Class will have an A25 AMG equipped with a four-cylinder powerplant good for over 335 horsepower. This juice will be squeezed out by AMG's High Performance Engine division, located in the UK. Mated to this motor will be a dual-clutch tranny.
Front-wheel drive? Certainly you must be joking. The baby AMG is not playing around and will feature an all-wheel drive set up as that's more performance-oriented.
As with other Mercedes-Benz products, the A25 AMG is expected to be a more refined driving experience over its competitors, like the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution and Subaru WRX STI.
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EVO has learned that Mercedes is set to launch its first ever hot hatch in 2013. Called the A25 AMG, it will have four-wheel drive, a twin-clutch gearbox and a turbocharged four-cylinder engine with ‘more than 335bhp’ that is currently being developed by AMG’s High Performance Engine division in the UK. If Mercedes manages to deliver on the project’s targets, then the finished A25 will be closer in spec to a Group B rally car than a mainstream hot hatch.
AMG boss Ola Kallenius told evo that the new A-class has a ‘clear sport gene’ but admitted that it could not deal with AMG levels of performance while remaining front-driven. ‘Pure front-wheel drive I would be extremely sceptical of from a performance point of view,’ he told us in a recent interview. ‘That would create understeer.’ AMG has solved the powertrain dilemma by mating the four-cylinder engine – a development of the existing ‘M271’ petrol motor – to a four-wheel-drive transmission. We can also expect the car to get a twin-clutch gearbox...
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