奔驰计划于明年发布下一代A级车，但其顶级款将于2019年发布，最近谍照记者拍到了正在测试的车型。新车预计仍将继续沿用A45这一名称，原型车似乎采用了最终量产版车身面板。从车身更低的运动悬挂，肌肉感轮拱，硕大轮圈和刹车盘判断，该车无疑就是A级车最高性能版本，预计该车最大功率至少400马力。车头可见更宽的蜂巢格栅，两侧是细窄前大灯，造型类似Concept A轿车。从侧面轮廓看，后视镜略微改款，在A柱上的位置更低一些，而且新车比老款车更大，内部空间更宽敞。先前的谍照显示，新一代A级车内部将配备类似奔驰更高级别车型的双显示屏。而在车尾，可以看到排气尾管，但这并非最终量产版排气管。另一方面，该车采用了量产版尾灯组，与老款的A45相比，新尾灯组造型完全不同。尾灯组向掀背车门延伸，让车辆从车尾看起来更宽，更具侵略性。根据最新消息，A45有两种版本，首先上市的是上面提及的400马力版本，它搭载一台2.0升涡轮引擎，扭矩至少500牛米。而在其生命周期后半程还将有一款弱混动版本，它的功率更强劲。这两款车将共享九速双离合变速器和经过改进的4Matic四驱系统。预计新一代A级标准版将于明年的某次重要车展亮相，其中3月的日内瓦车展是最有可能发布的时间，此外就是9月的巴黎车展。
2019 Mercedes-AMG A45 Spied Riding Low
Mercedes has already announced the next-generation A-Class is scheduled to debut next year, but we will probably have to wait until 2019 to see the range-topping version spotted here while undergoing testing. Likely to retain the A45 moniker, the prototype appears to have most of the final body panels.
From the lowered sports suspension and bulging fenders to the big wheels and chunky brakes, these are all signs we are dealing with the hottest A-Class of them all, one that we know for sure will have at least 400 horsepower. Up front we can see the wide hexagonal grille flanked by sleeker headlights previewed by the Concept A Sedan.
Looking at the side profile, the mirrors have been modified slightly lower on the doors and it seems the next generation will be a little bit bigger and that will pay dividends in terms of the amount of space available inside. Speaking of which, previous spy shots have shown the new A-Class will get a pair of screens akin to the bigger and more expensive models from Mercedes’ extensive range.
At the back, we can see the cutout for the exhaust tips, but those are not the final tailpipes. On the other hand, those are the production-ready taillights and have an entirely different shape compared to the outgoing A45. The lighting clusters extend onto the hatch and should make the car appear wider and more imposing when viewed from behind.
According to the latest intel, there are going to be two versions of the A45. The first one will pack the aforementioned 400-hp punch from an upgraded 2.0-liter turbo engine said to generate at least 369 pound-feet (500 Newton-meters) of torque. Later in the life cycle, a mild hybrid version will join the range with even more power. The two will share a dual-clutch, nine-speed automatic transmission in charge of sending the engine’s output to a tweaked 4Matic setup.
Expect the standard A-Class to be unveiled at a major auto show in 2018, with Geneva in March among the possible venues unless Mercedes will decide to wait until fall for Paris.