I was just reading about this. Seems absolutely mental. The most powerful production 2 litre petrol engine kicking out over 360bhp. 4 wheel drive should also make it quite a beast!

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-video/video-mercedes-a45-amg-vs-golf-gti-vs-bmw-m135i

If you havent already done so, take a look at the Autocar review where its compared against the BMW 135 and Golf GTI with performance pack - a great watch.

Yes, it does look like a nice bit of kit.

I was reading about this in EVO this morning. I think the engine sounds brilliant, and they reckon it was retained the AMG madness that you'd expect. Personally can't get on with the styling (I don't dislike it, but don't like it either) and the cost is ridiculous for what is effectively a small hatchback. I hope some people do buy them though and I can own one in perhaps 15 years time!

I was reading about this in EVO this morning. I think the engine sounds brilliant, and they reckon it was retained the AMG madness that you'd expect. Personally can't get on with the styling (I don't dislike it, but don't like it either) and the cost is ridiculous for what is effectively a small hatchback. I hope some people do buy them though and I can own one in perhaps 15 years time!

Will a 2.0l kicking out 360bhp last 15 years?

Hmm, don't like it, but then I hate all mercedes since the 280 Pagoda (the last true wishlist mercedes) IMHO

I like the new a class!

Looks awesome but if it were me id be a bore and buy the diesel

Will a 2.0l kicking out 360bhp last 15 years?

If you can afford it I doubt you care much past the warranty

I love the C63 AMG, sounds amazing and looks the part. If this is a smaller version of that, I want one!(Work PC's are older than my nan so wont play any vids :()

Agreed, that C63 in the advert before the main bit is absolutely fantastic! I love everything about it The A-class - Fabia vRS on serious steroids One could buy 2 Fabia vRS's and still have a good chunk left for serious power&handling mods

Is a bit pricey and a very good review in the vid, although wouldn't the golf r be the closer rival?

Didn't Mitsubishi get slated for squeezing too much power from a two litre four-pot? They became too highly strung and ultimately unpleasant to live with. Price is unrealistic and the motor itself could have rolled out of a Hyundai fore-court.

I'm certain a fairer test of the 'Beast' would be up against a Cosworth Impreza which is a much similarly engineered machine.

Didn't Mitsubishi get slated for squeezing too much power from a two litre four-pot? They became too highly strung and ultimately unpleasant to live with. Price is unrealistic and the motor itself could have rolled out of a Hyundai fore-court.

I think the FQ400 was slated a bit for turbo lag. On Top Gear I have a vague memory of a test involving an FQ400 and a stock family hatch doing an in-gear race from 30mph, and the lag was so bad on the FQ400, the family hatch won

360bhp? Surely that should be against a golf R not a gti.

I was thinking the same; the R would be a closer performance rival. Not sure about cost!

Test driving it next Friday !will let you know what I think

With how Mercs quality has gone downhill over the years. I'd much rather buy an Evo, Impreza or a Golf/Scirocco R for less money and more peace of mind.

Day

I think your find merc quality has improved lots !

I think your find merc quality has improved lots !

Still not as good as what it used to be. Or in line with the usual german marques.

Day

I have to say, comparing the inside of the in laws 2007 C200 and a mates 320d the BMW wins hands down. Nicer place to be and feels more solid.

I have tree mercs at work and can't say I can fault any the build quality of any of them. People need to stop being taken in by the motoring press when they say that a car Has an amazing build quality dash. Usually they say that because that's the only good thing they can say about a certain make of car that they have a favourite biased opinion off. Of course I'm not talking about auto express lol.

Well I hope the quality is better than on Merc commercials.

We avoid them now, not a single one on the fleet.

Looking at the price of this it should have been against a Golf R, Audi S3 or a TT-RS to close the price gap.

Great cars will beat cars from the price bracket above, not the one below IMO.

I have tree mercs at work and can't say I can fault any the build quality of any of them. People need to stop being taken in by the motoring press when they say that a car Has an amazing build quality dash. Usually they say that because that's the only good thing they can say about a certain make of car that they have a favourite biased opinion off. Of course I'm not talking about auto express lol.

I'm talking from personal experience. We've just had all the company cars replaced by either VW/Audi/BMW's after bad experiences with Mercedes. And as Bossfox has mentioned, the commercials are even worse!

Day

Prefer the B Class. The one I borrowed went like stink and very go-kart like.

Merc quality has been pretty shoddy of late (parts sharing with Chrysler?) my uncle's 53 reg E320 was a bag of bolts, awful awful car. I understand that they've really upped the game lately and judging by how many '13' plates there are around they could be back in the game.

I don't know if I was dreaming it but I was certain Clarkson slated the FQ400 for feeling like it was a gear change away from cracking and that the lower powered versions were a much better drive?