A tape-clad version of the new Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG hatchback has been spotted by our spy photographers near Daimler’s engineering headquarters in Germany.
If this car and earlier spy photos are on the money, the upcoming A-Class facelift will be a relatively minor affair, at least visually.
With plenty of disguise tape and blanking panels on the front and rear bumpers, the A45 will likely sport revised designs for both of these components, although it’s hard to see what those changes are exactly. Reworked graphics for the headlights and tail-lights are also on the cards.
As with the current car, the A45 development vehicle rides on 19-inch alloy wheels shod with 235/35 rubber, in this case provided by Continental. Braking power is provided by cross-drilled brakes.
The A45 may get a power boost to better compete with the recently confirmed Golf R400. The R400 is expected to have between 294kW and 309kW of power. The current A45 wrings 265kW/450Nm from its 2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine.
If the A45 follows the company’s recent naming convention, it will be rebranded as the Mercedes-AMG A45.
The updated A45 will likely debut with the rest of the new A-Class family. The less powerful members of the range are expected to launch in September.
-CarAdvice.com.au