2019 Mercedes-AMG A 45 S 4MATIC+ - Images, Specifications and Information

The new AMG suspension with specific spring elements and the new, frequency-selective shock absorbers provides the basis for high directional stability and highly dynamic cornering characteristics with low body roll. At the same time comfort has been improved compared to the preceding model. The longitudinal and transverse dynamics are perfectly coordinated.

All suspension components have been thoroughly revised in order to achieve a higher maximum lateral acceleration together with easy vehicle control at the limits.

A McPherson strut design is used at the front axle. Suspension is taken care of by one wishbone below the wheel centre, one spring strut and one tie rod respectively. The special axle geometry reduces the influence of the drive on the steering - for high comfort and agile handling. The new wishbone in aluminium reduces the unsprung masses enabling a more sensitive response from the springs. The brake callipers at the front axle are radially bolted - a technology from motorsport for more stability. The front axle carrier is rigidly attached and thus additionally stiffens the front section.

The 4-link rear suspension is likewise rigidly connected to the body via a rear axle carrier, and therefore very torsionally rigid. There are three transverse control arms and one trailing arm plus specific bearings per rear wheel. This design ensures maximum driving stability and agility.

The optional AMG RIDE CONTROL adaptive damping system enables the driver to choose between three different suspension control modes. The spectrum ranges from comfort-focused to sporty. The system operates fully automatically, adapting the damping forces for each wheel according to the driving situation and road conditions. This happens within milliseconds and is infinitely variable, with a wide spread of damping characteristics. The result is that it ride comfort and agility are enhanced in equal measure.

The high-performance braking system ensures fade-resistant deceleration and short braking distances. In the basic models, the 4-piston monobloc fixed front callipers act on 350 x 34 millimetre brake discs, while at the rear axle, 1-piston floating callipers act on 330 x 22 millimetre brake discs. The discs are internally ventilated and perforated to better dissipate heat and prevent brake fading, even with extreme use. The grey-painted brake callipers have white AMG lettering.

The S-models and the basic models with the optional AMG DYNAMIC PLUS package are decelerated by an even larger braking system equipped with 6-piston fixed callipers and 360 x 36 millimetre brake discs at the front. In this case the brake callipers are painted red and bear a black AMG logo.

The speed-sensitive, electro-mechanical sports power steering supports a sporty driving style with its direct turn-in ability. It has a special rack with variable transmission ratio and two characteristic curves: depending on which drive program the driver has selected, it provides taut and sporty or more comfort-biased steering feedback. The rigid mounting in the integral carrier connects the steering even better with the body and thus increases steering precision.

As standard the exhaust system has an exhaust flap which is automatically controlled depending on the engine speed and load. Depending on the drive program selected it modulates the sound from harmoniously discreet (in the programs Slippery, Comfort and Sport) to emotively sporty (in Sport+).

The six AMG DYNAMIC SELECT driving modes "Slippery", "Comfort", "Sport", "Sport +", "Individual" and "RACE" (standard for S-models, included in the optional AMG DYNAMIC PLUS package for basic models) allow a wide spread of vehicle characteristics, from comfortable to dynamic. Numerous relevant parameters are modified:

Powertrain: accelerator characteristics, shift times and timing, sound characteristics with the options of Reduced, Moderate, Sport or Dynamic
Transmission: automatic or manual
AMG DYNAMICS: Agility functions such as all-wheel control, steering characteristics and additional ESP functions in Basic, Advanced, Pro or Master versions (standard for S-models, included in the optional AMG DYNAMIC PLUS package for basic models)
Exhaust system: Sound and nature of the sound functions, Balanced or Powerful
Chassis (with optional AMG RIDE CONTROL suspension): in Comfort, Sport, Sport+

The individual drive programs offer an individual driving experience, precisely tailored to different driving conditions and driver requirements.

"Slippery": Optimum adaptation to suit slippery and icy road surface conditions, with reduced power requirement and flat torque curve. Smooth gear changes and earlier upshifting support the driving impression characterised by stability.
"Comfort": comfortable and fuel-efficient driving, e.g. thanks to very early upshifts. Suspension and steering are set up for an emphasis on comfort. In addition, the ECO start/stop function is active here.
"Sport": sporty characteristics thanks to a more agile response to the driver's accelerator pedal input, shorter shift times, earlier downshifts and significantly more emotive gearshifts owing to double de-clutching. A more dynamic suspension and steering set-up.
"Sport+": extremely sporty characteristics thanks to an even more agile throttle response, increased acoustic emphasis on double de-clutching during downshifts as well as selective torque control on upshifts with cylinder suppression for optimal shift times. Increased idle speed for faster pulling away. An even more dynamic set-up for suspension, steering and drivetrain.
"RACE": For highly dynamic driving on enclosed racetracks. In this program, all of the parameters are configured for maximum performance.
"Individual": Makes it possible to select and store individual parameters according to personal preferences. In addition, the gliding function is available in the "Reduced" and "Moderate" drive settings.

As a feature of the AMG DYNAMIC SELECT driving modes, the new 45 models have AMG DYNAMICS. This integrated vehicle dynamics control extends the stabilising functions of ESP with agility-enhancing intervention in the all-wheel control, steering characteristics and additional ESP functions. When cornering at speed, for example, brief braking intervention at the inner rear wheel generates a defined yawing motion around the vertical axis for responsive and precise entry into the bend.

The spectrum ranges from extremely stable to highly dynamic. On the multimedia display, when a drive program is selected, the new AMG DYNAMICS symbol is displayed together with the corresponding additional information.

"Basic" is assigned to the "Slippery" and "Comfort" drive programs. In this case the compact sportscars exhibit very stable handling with a high level of yaw damping.
"Advanced" is activated in the "Sport" program. The 45 models remain neutrally balanced. The lower yaw damping, lower steering angle requirement and enhanced agility support dynamic manoeuvres such as driving on winding country roads.
"Pro" (short for "Professional") belongs to the "Sport+" program. In "Pro" the driver receives even more assistance for dynamic driving manoeuvres while agility and feedback from the road when cornering are further enhanced.
"Master" is linked to the "RACE" driving mode (standard for S-models, included in the optional AMG DYNAMIC PLUS package for basic models). "Master" mode is aimed at drivers who want to experience dynamism and the driving enjoyment on closed-off circuits. "Master" offers a vehicle balance with slight oversteer, a low steering angle requirement and more agile steering. In this way, "Master" ensures maximum agility and fully exploits the dynamic potential. To activate "Master" mode, the driver must use the separate button in the centre console to switch the ESP to ESP SPORT Handling Mode or ESP

In the "Individual" drive program, the driver can set the AMG DYNAMICS levels "Basic", "Advanced", "Pro" and "Master" themselves.

With its sporty appointments and the MBUX infotainment system, the high-quality interior creates a close, personal connection between man and machine. The driver and front passenger are seated in an active position on contoured sport seats with firm lateral support. The standard upholstery as a combination of black ARTICO man-made leather and DINAMICA microfibre is timeless, and creates typical AMG highlights with double topstitching in red. The colour scheme is echoed by the red designo seat belts and the dashboard support trim in black DINAMICA microfibre with a red border. The chromed air vents are likewise upgraded with a red ring. As an alternative an upholstery in ARTICO man-made leather in neva grey/black with mid-grey double topstitching and light-longitudinal-grain aluminium trim is available.

The A 45 S and CLA 45 S even go a step further: yellow highlights reoccur throughout the interior to emphasise the motor racing character of the more powerful models. Also included in the standard equipment are the AMG Performance steering wheel in nappa leather/DINAMICA microfibre with contrasting yellow topstitching, a yellow 12 o'clock marking, AMG steering wheel buttons and AMG logo, plus ambience lighting.

In all models, the centre console in high-gloss black with a touchpad as standard has a further control array with additional switches controlling the 3-stage ESP, the manual transmission mode and the optional adaptive damping system AMG RIDE CONTROL. In combination with the optional leather package, it features a silver chrome console surround.

The characteristic, sporty AMG ambience is also enhanced by the sports pedal cluster of brushed stainless steel with rubber studs, black floor mats with AMG lettering and a surround in a nubuck leather look, the black fabric roof liner and AMG front entry sills in brushed stainless steel with "AMG" lettering.

The combination of sporty design and sophisticated details is also featured in the MBUX infotainment system with its innovative operating and display concept. MBUX creates an even closer connection between the vehicle, driver and passengers. Emotionally appealing presentations underline the clear control structure and feature brilliant maximum-resolution 3D graphics. Visually, the two displays under one shared glass cover blend into a Widescreen Cockpit and as a central element consequently emphasise the horizontal orientation of the interior design.

The customer can choose between the three AMG display styles "Classic", "Sport" and "Supersport" for the instrument cluster. The "Supersport" mode is particularly striking with a central, round rev counter and additional information presented in the form of bars to the left and right of the rev counter: with a three-dimensional perspective, they reach far into the background to an artificial horizon.

Via the AMG menu the driver can call up various special displays:

Gear display - with yellow "M" symbol in manual mode
Warm-Up menu - engine and transmission oil temperature
Set-Up menu - AMG DYNAMIC SELECT settings
G-Meter - longitudinal and lateral acceleration forces
Race-Timer - stopwatch, lap and sector times
Engine data - output and torque, engine oil and transmission oil temperature

The touchscreen multimedia display also emphasises the dynamic character with individual AMG displays such as visualisation of the driving programs, AMG TRACK PACE and telemetry data.

And needless to say, the trailblazing voice control activated with the words "Hey Mercedes" is also on-board. Thanks to artificial intelligence, MBUX recognises and understands nearly all sentences from the fields of infotainment and vehicle operation, even if they are expressed indirectly.

A perfect symbiosis between the driver and vehicle is ensured by the multifunction sport steering wheel in nappa leather with flattened steering wheel rim and perforated grip area, and depending on the upholstery, red, yellow or black topstitching and a facing in silver chrome. The galvanised steering wheel gearshift paddles allow an even sportier driving style with manual gear shifting.

The active distance assistant DISTRONIC and the TEMPOMAT cruise control can be adjusted on the control panels on the left. The control panels on the right are used to activate the voice control and telephone, and to regulate the sound volume, music selection and other functions of the infotainment system.

As standard the S-models are equipped with the AMG Performance steering wheel in nappa leather/DINAMICA microfibre (optional for basic model).

The AMG steering wheel buttons (standard for S-models, optional for the basic variants in conjunction with the Performance steering wheel) allow the AMG driving modes to be accessed directly, and other AMG functions to be conveniently operated directly at the steering wheel.

AMG TRACK PACE, the virtual race engineer, is standard equipment for the S-models, and otherwise optionally available in conjunction with HDD navigation and the media display: The software is part of the MBUX infotainment system, and when negotiating a race circuit it continuously monitors more than 80 vehicle-specific data (e.g. speed, acceleration). On top of this, lap and sector times are displayed, as well as the respective difference from a reference time. Because specific display elements are shown in green or red, the driver is able to see at a glance without reading numbers whether they are currently faster or slower than the best time.

After putting in some fast laps, the driver can use the data to analyse and, if necessary, improve their driving skills. In addition, acceleration and deceleration values (e.g. 0-100 km/h, ¼ mile, 100-0 km/h) can be measured and saved. Thanks to a newly developed algorithm which determines the vehicle position as precisely as possible, AMG TRACK PACE even detects when the circuit has been left or it has been shortened. This is done using GPS data as well as the sensors available in the vehicle (acceleration, gyroscope, steering angle, wheel speeds).

The data are displayed on the multimedia display, in the instrument cluster and on the optional head-up display. Well-known race tracks like, for example, the Nürburgring or Spa Francorchamps, are already stored. Furthermore, it is also possible to record your own circuits. The map display can be switched from 2D to 3D and updated online.

The MBUX Augmented Reality function also allows the ideal line of a stored race track to be displayed on the multimedia display or optional head-up display, allowing the driver to improve lap times with a virtual instructor on board.
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