Next Mercedes-AMG A45 to Top 400hp as Power Race Escalates
Mercedes-AMG confirms its next-generation A45 hot hatch will feature an all-new 2.0-litre engine producing more than 400hp, setting a new benchmark for the segment.
Mercedes-AMG is preparing to raise the stakes in the hot hatch segment with its next-generation A45, set to deliver more than 400hp from a newly developed 2.0-litre turbocharged engine. The confirmation comes directly from AMG boss Tobias Moers, who described the new powertrain as an “all-new engine” and set a target above 300kW (402hp).
The move comes as the power race among premium hot hatches intensifies. The original A45, launched in 2013, set the tone with 360hp from its M133 four-cylinder engine. Mercedes lifted that to 381hp with the 2015 facelift, only for Audi to respond with the RS3’s 400hp five-cylinder. The upcoming A45 will now reclaim the output crown, with Moers stating, “we do need to be over 300kW, that’s the new standard.”
New Engine and Technology Direction
The new A45 will not simply be a reworked version of the current car. Moers confirmed the engine is a clean-sheet design, rather than an evolution of the existing M133 or M270 units. While he acknowledged AMG’s interest in electric turbocharging, similar to the eZV system in Mercedes’ M256 inline-six, he suggested this technology may not feature in the first iteration of the new A45. However, AMG’s close links to electric turbine technology hint at future adoption.
The 4Matic all-wheel drive system is also likely to be upgraded. Moers indicated that elements from the fully-variable 4Matic+ system found in the E 63 could be adapted for the new A-Class platform, though he noted the technical challenge of scaling down the technology for a compact car. The current A45 already uses a performance-focused AWD setup, but further improvements could sharpen handling and traction as power levels climb.
Implications for the Hot Hatch Market
With the next A45 confirmed to exceed 400hp, the segment’s performance threshold has shifted again. The outgoing W176 A45, introduced in 2013 and facelifted in 2015, already delivered 381hp and 475Nm, achieving 0–100km/h in 4.2 seconds. The new model will push these figures further, and rivals are likely to respond in kind. Buyers can expect the next A45 to remain at the sharp end of the hot hatch market both in outright pace and technical sophistication.
- First-generation A45 AMG (2013): 360hp
- Facelifted A45 AMG (2015): 381hp
- Audi RS3 (2017): 400hp
- Next-generation A45 AMG: over 400hp (confirmed)
No official launch date has been set, but Mercedes-AMG is targeting a debut by 2019. Further technical details, including potential hybridisation or electric boosting, have not been confirmed for the initial release. For now, AMG’s focus is on reclaiming the hot hatch output crown with a conventional yet highly advanced turbocharged four-cylinder.
For more on the evolution of the A45 AMG, see the coverage of the facelifted 2016 model with 381hp: /2016-mercedes-benz-a45-amg-is-here
