First pictures have emerged of the Mercedes CLA45 AMG Edition 1. The launch special of the four-door, four-wheel-drive AMG echoes its relation in the A-class range, the A45 AMG Edition 1. Like its hatchback sibling, it gains red detailing on the grille and side mirrors, black 19in alloy wheels with red centre caps and red and black leather seats, while there’s a fetching set of graphite side stripes running along the CLA’s doors.
Under the saloon’s truncated snout sits the same 2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine as the standard CLA45 AMG, with 355bhp and 332lb ft yielding a rather brisk 4.6sec 0-62 time. Power is directed to all four wheels via a seven-speed twin-clutch paddleshift gearbox.
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While Mercedes A45 AMG order books are open now, prices for AMG’s first hot hatch starting at £37,845, the CLA45 goes on sale in October 2013. Prices are estimated to kick off at £41,500, suggesting a £45,000 sticker for the Edition 1 if it makes it to UK shores. Among the CLA45’s rivals will be the new Audi S3 Saloon and, although it lacks a boot, the jack-of-all-trades BMW M135i.
