Mercedes CLA 45 AMG review, test drive

AMG says it is an engine maker first and a car maker second; and what an engine this is. Making a record-busting 355bhp from a grand total of just two litres, it gives new meaning to the phrase “small but powerful”. And the headlining torque figure is pretty insane too; there’s a distinctly commercial vehicle-like 45.9kgm here (it’s why the engine is called the 45). That big turbo sure must be blowing hard into the engine.

Now I’ve driven plenty of high-specific-output turbo engines in the past. Normally there’s plenty of lag. You have to wait, wait and wait some more before the turbo finally wakes up and comes in with a whoosh, spitting you towards the horizon. But not here. This turbocharged four-cylinder under the hood is firing us at the horizon like we’ve been softly rear-ended by a locomotive. It feels progressive and linear, and there’s no real spike in power. What this car also has is an astonishing appetite for speed.

The following sequence plays out often. I wait for a big gap on the autobahn, take a deep breath and stomp down hard on the gas. There’s a small step-up in power at 2,000rpm and another at 4,000, but otherwise, the power delivery is smooth enough to be termed linear.

Initially, you feel a bit disappointed after a hard run-up to the redline in first and second. There should be more performance here, you tell yourself; and maybe there should.