AMG A45 S and CLA 45 S Make a Splash at Goodwood

Dropping the Bombshell

The Goodwood Festival of Speed is far more than just a showcase for old race cars. It's also become an important event for automotive manufacturers to show off their latest and greatest wares. And this year, Mercedes-Benz used the massively popular Goodwood stage to unveil the world's new most powerful four-cylinder production cars.

Photos: Mercedes-Benz

Menacing Appearances

Adding an "S" to the end of the A45 and CLA obviously makes them extra special. And you can tell that just by looking at them. Each car sports a host of aggressive body mods that make each look particularly menacing.

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Special Treatment

Both the A45 S and CLA 45 S carry quad exhaust tips, massive spoilers (roof mounted for the hot hatch A45 S), and revised front and rear fascias. Wheels for both are one inch larger than stock as well, measuring in at 19-inches.

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Monumental Numbers

The real story for both of these new hot S variants lies under the hood, however. There you'll find the newly developed M139 turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder producing an astounding 416 hp and 500 369 lb-ft of torque.

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Power Dealers

Even in the non-S cars, this engine still produces an impressive 382 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque. Both the S and non-S harness that power with an 8-speed dual clutch transmission and 4Matic+ all-wheel-drive.

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Speedy Base

According to Mercedes, the base A45 will do 0-62 mph in just 4.0 seconds and reach an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph. The optional AMG Driver’s Package raises that number to an also-limited 168 mph.

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Even Faster

The A45 S shaves a tenth off that time, getting to 62 mph in just 3.9 seconds, and it will hit 168 mph without any sort of optional packages.

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Weighed Down

The heavier CLA 45 and CLA 45 S give up a tenth of a second each to the A models, running to 62 mph in 4.1 and 4.0 seconds respectively. Top speed, on the other hand, is exactly the same for both.

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Tail Happy

This is all music to the ears of enthusiasts, who will also be happy to know that drift mode comes standard on S models and as an option on the base models. Simply flip on Race mode, turn off ESP, and switch to manual mode and you'll be enjoying some tail happy fun.

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Good News, Bad News

The only bad news? Well, the A-Class hatch isn't sold here in the states, which means neither the A45 nor the A45 S will be available here. Mercedes did confirm that the CLA 45 will be sold in the U.S., but no word on the S yet. Stay tuned!

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For service and maintenance information on your car, check the how to section of MBWorld.com.