Mercedes-AMG boss Tobias Moers has confirmed that the more powerful 280kW/475Nm engine from the upgraded A45 hot hatch will also be fitted to AMG's CLA and GLA models.
This means both the CLA coupe-sedan and wagon, plus the small GLA SUV, will receive a big hike in performance.
In the lighter A-Class hatch the new engine (which delivers a huge 280kW of power and 475Nm of torque -- up 15kW and 25Nm) shaves a considerable 0.4 seconds off the 0-100km/h with the upgraded hatch posting a mighty 4.2 second dash.
It’s not just the extra power that accompanies the new more powerful engine. Also boosting performance is a revised seven-speed dual-clutch automatic that has shorter ratios for quicker in-gear acceleration.
Mercedes engineers have, in addition, added a new front mechanical differential to the existing all-wheel drive hardware to boost traction further.
Despite the added power, fuel consumption remains unchanged.
According to reports, Moers wouldn’t be drawn into when the more powerful CLA and GLA will join the AMG line-up, instead preferring to say the boosted small sedan, wagon and SUV would arrive “before long”.
First deliveries of the 2016 A-Class range — including the wild new A 45 — are due Down Under late this year, but there's no official word yet on the even crazier 294kW A 45 S that was leaked earlier this month — or whether the same stratospheric turbo-four will also be fitted to the CLA and GLA.