I'm really warming up to the 2014 Mazda 3, but a bit sad that there's no Mazdaspeed 3 on the horizon. Then I've been reading about the 2014 Mercedes A45 AMG (Nov '13 release). I know, I know, it's a Mercedes, but this is something completely new and different for them, being (relatively) inexpensive, small, and a performance hatchback. Could it be the game changer that gets them in the Hot Hatch market bigtime?

And really - these cars look like peas in a pod.... except the fact the A45 AMG has like 355HP, 332 lb-ft torque (from a 2 liter!!), AWD, a PDK, and peps are saying starting price is ~ 35K with a Mercedes published time of 4.6 sec 0-60 time. That's hardly more than I paid for my RX-8 10 years ago!

If Mazda was making a Mazdaspeed 3 I can hardly think of anything that would make it more attractive than specs like the A45. Check out the track video...

Mercedes A45 AMG pitted against CLA45 AMG in brotherly battle - Autoblog

Drag race with CLS63 at twice the money and 557HP (who won? Well, the A45 went 0-60mph in 4.1sec ...1/4 mile 12.6 sec @112.5mph so hummmmmm!) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPzCb...ature=youtu.be

Anyone else feeling this?

 

Here's some proper track testing by autocar.co.uk - 355bhp Mercedes A45 AMG driven flat out - . Was reading 0-100mph was in the 10 second range - mighty impressive. The inside shot also show just how small the car is.

 

A45 vs. Golf GTI vs M135i

 

price is more like 65 grand. At that price they can keep it. Rich mans WRX.

 

Fugly.

 

If the CLA45 AMG is starting at $48,375 including destination how would the A45 be 65K as it's missing the boot? In reality it won't be had at any price here, 'cause there's no US A45 only CLA45.

Compared to the bland as a refrigerator look of the VW and the REALLY fugly BMW 1, the Benz looks like the beauty pageant winner lol.

 

Now here's what I'm talking about - 12 minutes of no-talk track action in an A45. If you're a track junkie, buckle up, go fullscreen and enjoy the ride

I'm not clear on the track details, but the Swedish magazine Bilsport apparently snagged some seat time in an A45, playing fox and hare w/a Mercedes SLS AMG (base ~200K). In the vid, the A45 looks very composed and, from what I see here, has the potential to slice and dice other decent track-worthy hardware. I'm seeing smooth composed track behavior, with good windup and plenty of high-speed acceleration available. Off the bat I can think of a number of cars for comparo testing, but the Audi TT RS comes to mind right away.

(might as well start @1:45)

 

cars amazing and looks great Im sold BUT i thought it was 35k (same price as a evo mr) and i thought its a steel...... but unfortnatelly its going to be much more and is it even available in the US?

 

There's some European pricing talk - don't think it's official, so price is still up in the air. It's hard to tell, but likely it'll be more than anyone wants. As for it showing up here, apparently Mercedes didn't get the memo the US loves hot hatches, so all signs point to us being stuck with the sedan version - the CLA45, w/a slight weight penalty, otherwise same power. I'm dreaming they relent and bring the A45, who knows could happen.

 

Here's the Mercedes CLA45 AMG Ordering Guide online:

http://www.mediafire.com/view/g5q89h...5_DOG_V1.0.pdf

Base price: $ 47,450 which means it costs dearly, and obviously more with options. Oh well.

At least this story today on autoblog 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG First Drive - Autoblog gives credence to the idea that Mercedes MAY bring the hatchback A45 stateside, and to the fact that the suspensions in the two cars (A45 & CLA45) are different, and that is in line with testers preferring the A45's handling character.

 

I love comparison reviews. No gushing superlatives without the immediate balance of another car or two to keep it all in perspective. So happily another in-depth review with lots of detail commentary on both cars in both venues. Here, we discover Chris prefers the 'hang the tail out' attitude of the BMW but... with the A45 he ends up feeling [as I do about my (modified) RX8] it's a bit stiff on the road, but that all changes on track where life in the fast lane is something different.

"The First time you even sit in the A45 and experience it, accelerate in second or third gear, you will say [BLEEP] me, that's a fast car." Chris Harris on cars

Mercedes A45 v BMW M135i on road and track

 

water cooled intercooler Skyactiv-G anyone?

INTAKE DEVICE OF ENGINE


my 2 cents:

the next mazdaspped engine will be supercharged , not turbocharged...

"The return of a proper Miller engine"

 

^ That's pretty cool! (NPI). Looks like it's one of the ways to get really good, compact intercooling for small engines. The 2 liter Mercedes A45 air/water intercooler below works in a similar manner to what Mazda has proposed, and w/26 psi boost, gets some amazingly numbers like 178hp/liter.

Let's hope the MS3 can do likewise and also find a way to control the torque steer! I'd suggest for them to use 4 wh. drive to get the power down like MB, as it seems to be one good answer to that problem!

 

After reading through it seems the example engine is a in line diesel and has a turbine chamber .it goes on to say turbocharged.page 19 (0038)

 

maybe...but i don't see the point to have a liquid cooled intercooler in a diesel engine, air temperature and cooling needs are lower than a turbo gasoline engine.

maybe the turbo charger is electric-assisted...(and not showed)

 

Good point. Does the sky-active diesel or B T 50 have inter cooling.Just realized it would be air to air.
They could be trying to misdirect us .Test it on a diesel produce it on sky active G

 

yep.

there are some european cars with water intercooler (BMW M5, MB A45 AMG) they are always gasoline cars.

the fact that a turbocharger is not clearly showed into patent make me think that there are some "news/secrets" also in that part.

my opinion is that within in a year we'll have the new Mazdaspeed3, and that car needs a proper engine...so....

 

if its offered as awd i will def. get the speed 3 over the new wrx