Mercedes Test Day: Behind the wheel of the Mercedes A 45 AMG, S 350 BlueTec and CLA 220 CDI

As every year, Mercedes invited us to test its latest novelties. On a cold November morning, we set out for a brief first contact with news as interesting as the Mercedes A-Class 45 AMG with 360 hp, the Mercedes S-Class S 350 BlueTec and the Mercedes CLA 220 CDI.

We also learned new details about the launches expected for next year, a 2014 that will be loaded with novelties. Among them, the new Mercedes C-Class stands out, the launch of the GLA, and the new V-Class, which will be a radical change from the current Viano.

Mercedes A 45 AMG

Of all the models available for testing on the Test Day, one of the spiciest and most interesting was the A-Class 45 AMG with its 360 hp. So much power comes from a four-cylinder engine, the most powerful production four-cylinder with just two litres of displacement, capable of producing 360 hp.

Paired with so much power is 4MATIC all-wheel drive, essential for always having the best traction and making the most of every one of those horsepower. As a complement to the engine, there is a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox tuned by AMG, which stands out for its speed in changing gears, delivering an effective and sporty response.

Aesthetically, there are few elements that set it apart from an A-Class with the AMG package, but among them are the sport seats signed by Recaro, red seatbelts, red inserts on the dashboard, the AMG gear lever on the centre tunnel, alloy wheels with larger brakes, side skirts, among other elements.

Externally it stands out for its sportiness, and behind the wheel it behaves in a very composed way. Acceleration is very good and you can feel its 360 hp, the grip thanks to all-wheel drive is excellent, and that makes for a lot of fun at the wheel. The engine sound matches the sportiness expected of an AMG, and firm suspension keeps the A 45 AMG glued to the tarmac.

The Mercedes A-Class 45 AMG is available from 54,750 euros, a reasonable price considering that the Audi S3 has less power (300 hp) and less equipment, although its starting price is 42,800 euros.

Mercedes S-Class S 350 BlueTEC

Another car we were able to test is the flagship of the brand with the star, and the flagship label is more than earned, because getting into the new Mercedes S-Class is like travelling in business class.

The exterior design, much more elegant than the previous generation, now with front headlights fully equipped with LED technology, as well as the rear lights and interior lighting, so it is the first car that does not have a single bulb; everything is LED. Each front headlight has 56 LEDs.

But what is impressive is sitting inside, as soon as you get in you notice seats in sublime quality leather, and soft leather headrests that adapt perfectly to our driving position.

If instead of driving we have a chauffeur, sitting in the rear seats the feeling of comfort and luxury hits us again, from each door you can control the electric side and rear blinds or the window, not to mention seats that look like cinema armchairs but upholstered in excellent-quality leather. And as an option, “First Class-style” seats are available, which turn into two enormous armchairs with all kinds of adjustments, including ones to support our legs.

In safety it also innovates, and alongside the usual devices on the Mercedes comes the new seatbelt airbag available for the rear seats. The instrumentation is LED and there are two 12.5-inch screens on the dashboard, one for the instrument cluster and another for the multimedia system.

Although we have no doubt that travelling with a chauffeur in the S-Class can be quite an experience, behind the wheel it is also a very interesting car. We tested the 258 hp V6 diesel engine, a powertrain that moves this large saloon with great ease. It also has adaptive suspension, which lets us adjust the firmness of the suspension to the driving style. As an option for petrol engines, a suspension is available that reads the road thanks to several cameras and anticipates future road imperfections by modifying the firmness of the suspension; it will progressively extend to the rest of the range.

Mercedes CLA 220 CDI AMG

Finally, we were able to make a brief first contact with the 170 hp Mercedes CLA 220 CDI, and the CLA we tested came with an imposing exterior look thanks to the AMG package. Externally it is a low car, about three centimetres lower than a C-Class.

Inside, little changes compared to the A-Class; even rear headroom is somewhat compromised by the design, leaving little space for the head in the rear seats. The engine is very sensible: it has sufficient power and at the same time fuel consumption can be kept low.

It is curious how successful the Mercedes CLA has been, because in just 4 months the sales forecast for the whole year, which was 2,000 units, has already been sold.

Photos | Diego G. Moreira