2020 Mercedes-AMG A45 Comes Out One Last Time Before Geneva Debut

We’ve spied Mercedes taking the new AMG A45 hot hatch for one last spin before the wraps come off at the Geneva Motor Show in the first week of March. The article and the gallery below have been revised accordingly. (Update 2/18/2019)

Previously, Mercedes-AMG had dropped an A45 teaser video.

The holiday-themed clip that was released in December begins with traditional Christmas music but quickly transitions into something else entirely as it shows the high-performance hatchback hitting the track.

Dressed in colorful camouflage, the Mercedes-AMG A45 follows in the footsteps of A35 but features a more aggressive exterior with a panamericana grille and a four-tailpipe exhaust system. The model also appears to have unique alloy wheels and the same rear wing as the A35.

While the teaser video isn’t too revealing, Mercedes-AMG CEO Tobias Moers has already confirmed an assortment of details about the upcoming model. Chief among them is the fact that the car will use an all-new turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produces more than 395 hp (294 kW / 400 PS). This means the model will have at least 95 hp (70 kW / 96 kW) more than the A35.

Besides featuring a more powerful engine, the A45 will have an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission instead of the A35’s seven-speed unit. The combination of more power and more gears should enable the A45 to easily beat its little brother which can accelerate from 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 4.7 seconds before hitting a limited top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h).

As before, the A45 will come equipped with a standard 4MATIC all-wheel drive system. However, there will be an all-new drift mode which is similar to the one used on the Mercedes-AMG GT Four-Door Coupe.

If that wasn’t impressive enough, Moers has previously said the car’s chassis will be an “unbelievable” improvement over its predecessor. The car also promises to be more rigid and comfortable than the outgoing model.