The new Mercedes-AMG A45 S is the most powerful hot hatch on sale and, despite being built on a front-biased all-wheel drive platform, it does feature a Drift mode that allows the back end to slide.
As a result, one might think that it is a proper track tool, with responsive steering and barely any understeer. However, for all its clever technology, it did not manage to pass the moose test.
The challenge that replicates what happens when drivers swerve to avoid an obstacle in the middle of the road and then try to get back in their lane as quickly as possible proved too much for the A45 S, which could not complete it at 49 mph (77 km/h).
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Engaging the Sport mode did not help, as it didn’t change the outcome. The driver had to lower the entry speed to 47 mph (75 km/h) in order for the hot hatch to not hit the cones, a result comparable to the much bigger Audi A7. What’s interesting is that the BMW M235i Gran Coupe, which features a similar layout to the A45 S, also failed the test.
With a whopping 415 HP (421 PS / 310 kW) and 369 lb-ft (500 Nm) of torque produced by its 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, AMG’s ultimate hot hatch can hit a maximum speed of 168 mph (270 km/h) and does the 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 3.9 seconds. It’s not available in the U.S., but in Germany, it starts at €61,103 ($72,227).