[Black Sheep]

Originally Posted by Mr. Nice

why even waste all that time messing around with intakes?

Thought there were a few people that already wasted there time doing this

[Black Sheep]

Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG beats Audi RS3, BMW 1-M

AMG’s screaming A45 hatch has run the BMW 1-Series M and Audi RS3 rivals into the ground at Germany’s famed 'Ring track, says its head of development. Fritz Eichler says AMG recently completed back-to-back performance testing at Nurburgring and Hockenheim tracks with the A45 "easily" beating the Audi RS3.

But he says though the new Mercedes-AMG hatch was ahead of the BMW 1-M "there wasn’t much in it". “The A45 is very predictable, very fast and the handling is excellent with the variable front and rear drive," he says.

Eichler, who was one of the drivers during testing, says the BMW - both 135i and 1M were tested - was the hardest competitor. “But we still beat them,’’ he says. "1M was a real competitor. We cracked it but it was hard."

Eicher, the head of engine and powertrain at AMG, says introducing the A45 into the AMG lineup next year - in Australia in August - represents "a completely new chapter for us." “We have never done a compact car before but it’s completely different from the old A-Class. We think it fits our brand dimension."

AMG has secretly worked on the new hatchback for four years. Most of that time was testing engines and Eichler says even a V8 wasn’t dismissed initially, though a V12 "simply wouldn’t fit". The Mercedes-Benz affiliate settled on an extremely modified version of the Mercedes-Benz A-Class car due here in March.

“Right now the engine has more than 250kW and more than 400Nm,’’ Eichler says. “We haven’t decided on the output yet, it’s still being developed. “But 400Nm is just the starting point. We always have to be better than the competition. Our four cylinder is already better than their (BMW) six cylinder.’’

While the engine is still being baked, AMG is close to finalising a particular - and identifying - exhaust note. “The A45 does not have a V8 sound,’’ Eichler says. “We have developed it with a special (engine and exhaust) sound which is like Rory Gallagher’s guitar rife." The statement made me reach for a Gallagher recording but no clues to how that translates to a hot hatch.

The A45 gets a dual-clutch gearbox that is “completely different" from that in the forthcoming Mercedes A-Class, he says. “It’s a lot different from the standard one. “It has two more clutch discs, bigger shafts and new coupling - it’s completely different.

“For the future, we will have our own transmission assembly facility and our aim is for a multi-clutch dual-clutch gearbox." AMG will also build the A45’s engine at a new facility some distance from its head office and closer to Mercedes’ Stuttgart plant. “We don’t have the room here for that engine," he says.

“But it will still be built on our philosophy - one man, one engine." Mr Eichler says the A45 - which will be followed by two more models based on the A-Class platform - will boost AMG’s growth. “We have had a 39 per cent growth rate since January 2012, the most successful year on record," he says.

“That’s not just because of A-Class, but other models as well.’’ AMG has 23 vehicles in its fleet from the SLK to the G-wagen and SLS. “We have ML and GL coming, as well as A-Class and there will be two other cars in our compact segment within three years,’’ he says.

“We will pick three of the A-Class cars, of the five that are planned (by Mercedes). “There will be an AMG hatch (A45) and a sedan (CLA) and one more. It may be the SUV (GLA) or the wagon (shooting brake). We haven’t announced anything yet."

[mithiral67]

Who has done it on north of 400 whp?

[Black Sheep]

Does it matter? we are talking a few HP either way you go

[Mr. Nice]

the difference between the best and worst will be like 5whp, youd need at least 30whp to feel it, and dyno results aren't going to be indicative of the real world when you are at speed, just seems like a waste of time, stock airbox will do best on the dyno, dci will do best at the drag strip

[mithiral67]

Okay, anything else I should test out?

[Mr. Nice]

yeah, stage 2+, e30, and race gas maps

[Black Sheep]

Your manhood, see if you still have it now that you are Porscheless

[Black Sheep]

Go get your car protuned so I don't have to be the first next year

[mithiral67]

Anyone local doing it?

[Mr. Nice]

you should buy a jb4 also and see what it does with 50% e85 on map 5

[Mr. Nice]

i think ams will do it

[Black Sheep]

Originally Posted by mithiral67

Anyone local doing it?

I was in contact with AMS, they said they were going to buy the software, but the conversation was when it first came out.

[mithiral67]

Yea. They aren't going Cobb, using the same software on the 911s. Still in development.

[mithiral67]

Meh, don't want to monkey around with the ecu.

[Black Sheep]

email Rob@Cobb an see who in illionis can do it, if there is nobody ill have to do it remotely threw ProTuningFreaks

[Mr. Nice]

Originally Posted by mithiral67

Meh, don't want to monkey around with the ecu.

takes less time than swapping an intake

[Mr. Nice]

I just emailed P&L motorsports in frnaklin park, they do a lot of cobb protunes on subis

[Black Sheep]

Originally Posted by lupoblu78

.. I ordered one this morning .. 89 euro is alot but hey I love my car and this is a nice gadget

This is from some moron in the 1M polo shirt thread... Since when is a shirt a gadget???

[mithiral67]

Interesting. I might give them a call in the spring. I am going to wait until next spring to decided if I want to go upgraded turbos (RB or Vargas). As I plan to get a protune for it, I dont want to get one know until I know what I want to do.

[RaceBlood]

So when I was in Istanbul last week, there was a 2011 space gray E93 with the M Sport package, front n rear spoilers, side skirts and 19"s, but the rear has only 1 oval shaped tail pipe on the left, on the rear diffuser bumper, what the heck, must of been a 328... all the new 3 sedans there are rear badge deletes, the Audi A3 wagon with sport package and TDI was nice...

Most common models I saw-

MB C220/250
BMW 328/320d/520d
Audi A4 TDI
Porsche Panamaras
Range Rover Evoques

Oh, petrol is $11 gallon....most expensive in world...but we could take public ferries up the Bosphorus or between EU and Asia sides for 1 euro a 20 minute scenic ride...

[gary88]

Oval tailpipe = 320d, most common 3 series in Europe.