Mercedes A45 AMG takes aim at the Audi RS3

The performance version of the new Mercedes A Class – which looks like it’s going to be the Mercedes A45 AMG – is gunning for the Audi RS3.

We know that car makers have other car makers’ models in their firing line when they plan a new model. But it’s not all that common for them to publicly admit it.

But Tobias Moers, AMG development boss, told Autocar that right from the start they wanted to make sure that the A Class AMG – which looks like it will be the A45 AMG and not the A25 AMG – was able to match the output of the 2.5 litre 5-pot in the Audi RS3.

The RS3 gets 335bhp and 332lb/ft of torque to make it fly and Mercedes are challenging that with 330bhp and ‘more than’ 295lb/ft of torque from the 2.0 litre four-pot turbo being developed by AMG’s high performce team in the UK.

A huge 330bhp from a modest 2.0 litre is quite an accomplishment and puts the new A45 AMG on a par with McLaren’s 3.8 litre V8 in the MP4-12C in terms of output per litre.

All that power will be driven to all four wheels through a seven-speed dual clutch ‘box with a bias, under normal conditions, very much to the back wheels to give decent handling and, together with a seriously fettled suspension, allow the new A45 AMG to corner at higher speeds than its rivals and get to 62mph in around 5 seconds.

The Mercedes A45 AMG is expected to be officially revealed later this week and go on sale in the UK in early 2013 at around £35k, a chunk less than its target car the Audi RS3.