Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG is Affalterbach's first big leap into the little pond

Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG is Affalterbach's first big leap into the little pond The recent history of AMG is turning out amped-up versions of Mercedes-Benz offerings that would hardly ever be mistaken for their sedate counterparts. Sure, you'd need to pay attention to pick a G-Class from the G63 AMG, but dual side-pipes are a quick giveaway. The Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG is not only a new era in Affalterbach's attention on smaller cars, it is probably also the most subtle transformation we can think of in the line-up.

Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG is Affalterbach's first big leap into the little pond

Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG is Affalterbach's first big leap into the little pond front view 1

Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG is Affalterbach's first big leap into the little pond front view 2

Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG is Affalterbach's first big leap into the little pond front view

Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG is Affalterbach's first big leap into the little pond rear view 1

Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG is Affalterbach's first big leap into the little pond rear view

Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG is Affalterbach's first big leap into the little pond side view

Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG is Affalterbach's first big leap into the little pond

Low and chunky enough in standard guise to make a sporting impression, the aesthetic makeover is confined to black trim around the lower rim of the hatch, black wheels with red brake calipers and a single, rectangular exhaust tip on either side of the diffuser. It's easier to make a positive ID inside, where the flat-bottomed steering wheel, red seatbelts and red-rimmed details say, "You know what I am..."

Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG is Affalterbach's first big leap into the little pond

If the car is running, though, it won't take but a second. The 2.0-liter turbo spitting 360 horsepower and 332 pound-feet will grumble through a sport exhaust at idle, and bellow through the same on it's way to a 0-60 time of less than 4.5 seconds. And if you need something that looks a little harder – and you want those quad pipes – then the A45 AMG Edition 1 is the treasure you seek. There's a press release below for all the info you'll need until the hot hatch goes on sale in Germany later this year, and photos for the rest of us while we wait to find out if we'll get a chance to buy it.

Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG is Affalterbach's first big leap into the little pond