Mercedes-Benz CLA 45 AMG is a four-door coupe with stacks of performance
Mercedes-Benz has added yet enough model to its AMG hotrod range. The hot version of the CLA-Class is the 45 AMG model. The ‘45’ celebrates the 45th anniversary of AMG – not the size of the engine. Pity!
The CLA-Class is a little brother to the CLS-Class coupe, though it could also be described as an A-Class four-door sedan. It has a sleek coupe-like body that almost looks like a two-door.
STYLING
The CLA 45 AMG is a great looking machine with a neatly integrated body kit to enhance its high-performance credentials. The slope to the roof at the rear is a major factor in this being one of the most aerodynamic mass production cars ever built.
Though every external panel of the CLA 45 coupe is different from those on the A 45 hatch, the two vehicles share pretty much the same overall style. There’s nothing wrong with that – it has a strong emphasis on the sporting nature of this machine. Our red test car had black trim that was highlighted by raised red stitching. Looked just right for a car like this.
As the CLA is a coupe so the back seat has limited headroom, somehow this doesn’t matter as much in the AMG sports model as it does in the standard cars.
The boot is a large and easy to load.
ENGINES / TRANSMISSIONS
The AMG engineers have squeezed 265 kilowatts of power from a 2.0-litre four-cylinder high-pressure turbo-petrol engine. That’s an amazing 355 horsepower in muscle cars terms, and the CLA 45 AMG is most definitely a compact muscle car.
Sitting alongside the engine is a seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual gearbox modified to provide ultra-fast shifts.
Putting 450 Nm of torque to the road through just the front wheels would have resulted in the engine management computer trimming torque far too often to prevent wheelspin in low gear – indeed, even third of fourth gear may have had torque steer if the CLA 45 had two-wheel drive. So an all-wheel-drive system was developed. In normal driving all the power goes only through the front wheels, the rear wheels are brought into action within a tenth of a second when the computer senses the front tyres are suffering from engine overload.
SAFETY
Driven correctly any high-performance car is safer than the standard model on which it’s based. That’s due to its improved chassis and braking dynamics, as well as its ability to accelerate out of trouble if that’s the correct way of doing it.
Avoiding crashes and/or minimising their dangers is carried out by everything from driver drowsiness warnings to radar detection of potential crashes. There’s automatic lane keeping and blind spot warning systems.
A complete range of occupant protection devices ensured the CLA-Class had no trouble getting a maximum five-star rating in barrier crash testing.
DRIVING
As can be the case in any highly tuned performance car the CLA 45 AMG can be temperamental at very low speeds. The engine takes a few moments to get wound up to decent revs and the double-clutch gearbox can take its time as well. The result can be irritating when you’re in crawling along in seemingly endless traffic jams.
Those who want the image of owning a hotrod Merc AMG but who aren’t really interested in driving should possibly look elsewhere. Real drivers will be more than happy to tolerate slow traffic – aware of what dynamic heights their car will achieve when it can be given its head.
Interestingly, when we had our first drive in a CLA 45 a couple of months back it didn’t feel as bad at very low speeds. Perhaps it was because almost all our driving was done on country roads that it didn’t irritate us. To be on the safe side, take the car for a decent test drive before settling on it and see what you think.
We were extremely impressed by the road grip and exceptional cornering ability. This car has the sort of cornering grip, steering wheel feel and throttle control that is guaranteed to bring smiles to the faces of all of us who really love driving. Yet it retains more comfort than you would expect from a highly-strung sports machine. That’s amazing.
Best of all is the exhaust note. The baby Benz hotshot spits, snarls and generally carries on when thrashed hard; just the way it should be in any high-performance car, particularly one that’s powered by a small turbocharged engine.
When you build a car that can reach 270 km/h on the racetrack you need to be able to pull it up quickly at the end of the big straights without frying the brakes. The huge units on the CLA 45 use cross-drilled and ventilated discs and work brilliantly.
SUMMING UP
Mercedes CLA 45 AMG coupe is a sophisticated hotrod from the high-performance division of the world’s oldest car maker. Mercedes-Benz has reinvented itself in recent years, changing from being a maker of large comfortable saloons to a company that produces a hugely varied range of machines. At one extreme sits the CLA 45 AMG, a bargain in this class at $86,900 plus on-road charges.
AT A GLANCE
MODEL RANGE
CLA 200 1.6-litre turbo petrol four-door coupe: $49,900 (automatic)
CLA 250 Sport 2.0-litre turbo petrol four-door coupe: $63,400 (automatic)
CLA 45 AMG 2.0-litre turbo petrol four-door coupe: $86,900 (automatic)
Note: These prices do not include government or dealer delivery charges. Contact your local Mercedes-Benz dealer for driveaway prices.
FEATURES
ABS Brakes: Standard in all models
Automatic Transmission: Standard in all models
Cruise Control: Standard in all models
Dual Front Airbags: Standard in all models
Front Side Airbags: Standard in all models
Electronic Stability Program: Standard in all models
Rear Parking sensors: Standard in all models
Reversing Camera: Standard in all models
USB/Auxiliary Audio inputs: Standard in all models
Bluetooth: Standard in all models
Steering wheel mounted controls: Standard in all models
SPECIFICATIONS (Mercedes-Benz CLA 45 AMG 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-door coupe)
ENGINE:
Capacity: 1.991 litres
Configuration: Four cylinders in line
Compression ratio: 8.6:1
Bore/Stroke: 83.0 mm x 92.0 mm
Maximum Power: 265 kW @ 6000 rpm
Maximum Torque: 450 Nm @ 2250-5000 rpm
DRIVELINE:
Driven Wheels: All-wheel drive
Manual Transmission: Not offered
Automatic Transmission: Seven-speed
Final Drive Ratio: Not supplied
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES:
Length: 4630 mm
Wheelbase: 2699 mm
Width: 1777 mm
Height: 1432 mm
Turning Circle: 11.1 metres
Kerb Mass: 1585 kg
Fuel Tank Capacity: 64 litres
Boot Capacity: 470 litres
SUSPENSION AND BRAKES:
Front Suspension: Independent, three link
Rear Suspension: Independent, four link
Front Brakes: Ventilated disc
Rear Brakes: Ventilated disc
PERFORMANCE:
0-100 km/h Acceleration: 4.6 seconds
FUEL CONSUMPTION:
Type: 98RON
Combined Cycle (ADR 81/01): 7.0 L/100km
GREEN VEHICLE GUIDE RATINGS:
Greenhouse Rating: 7/10
Air Pollution Rating: 7.5 /10
STANDARD WARRANTY:
Three years/ unlimited km
AT A GLANCE
MODEL RANGE
CLA 200 1.6-litre turbo petrol four-door coupe: $49,900 (automatic)
CLA 250 Sport 2.0-litre turbo petrol four-door coupe: $63,400 (automatic)
CLA 45 AMG 2.0-litre turbo petrol four-door coupe: $86,900 (automatic)
Note: These prices do not include government or dealer delivery charges. Contact your local Mercedes-Benz dealer for driveaway prices.
FEATURES
ABS Brakes: Standard in all models
Automatic Transmission: Standard in all models
Cruise Control: Standard in all models
Dual Front Airbags: Standard in all models
Front Side Airbags: Standard in all models
Electronic Stability Program: Standard in all models
Rear Parking sensors: Standard in all models
Reversing Camera: Standard in all models
USB/Auxiliary Audio inputs: Standard in all models
Bluetooth: Standard in all models
Steering wheel mounted controls: Standard in all models
SPECIFICATIONS (Mercedes-Benz CLA 45 AMG 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-door coupe)
ENGINE:
Capacity: 1.991 litres
Configuration: Four cylinders in line
Compression ratio: 8.6:1
Bore/Stroke: 83.0 mm x 92.0 mm
Maximum Power: 265 kW @ 6000 rpm
Maximum Torque: 450 Nm @ 2250-5000 rpm
DRIVELINE:
Driven Wheels: All-wheel drive
Manual Transmission: Not offered
Automatic Transmission: Seven-speed
Final Drive Ratio: Not supplied
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES:
Length: 4630 mm
Wheelbase: 2699 mm
Width: 1777 mm
Height: 1432 mm
Turning Circle: 11.1 metres
Kerb Mass: 1585 kg
Fuel Tank Capacity: 64 litres
Boot Capacity: 470 litres
SUSPENSION AND BRAKES:
Front Suspension: Independent, three link
Rear Suspension: Independent, four link
Front Brakes: Ventilated disc
Rear Brakes: Ventilated disc
PERFORMANCE:
0-100 km/h Acceleration: 4.6 seconds
FUEL CONSUMPTION:
Type: 98RON
Combined Cycle (ADR 81/01): 7.0 L/100km
GREEN VEHICLE GUIDE RATINGS:
Greenhouse Rating: 7/10
Air Pollution Rating: 7.5 /10
STANDARD WARRANTY:
Three years/ unlimited km
Related Posts:
Powered by Contextual Related Posts
