Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG

First of all, let’s get a little bit nerdy and talk figures. The Mercedes A45 AMG’s turbocharged 2.0-litre, four-cylinder engine kicks out an almighty 355bhp and 450Nm of torque. It’s all channeled through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission to the marque’s brilliant 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system.

The result is a car that can rocket from 0-60mph in just 4.3 seconds and go on to an electronically limited top speed of 155mph. Those acceleration figures are made to feel even more gut-bustlingly brilliant thanks to an epic launch control system. Be in no doubt that this is one very rapid machine.

Mercedes’ A-Class was met with mixed reviews when it was first introduced in 2013. Some berated the rather vague and woolly steering, others said the chassis was too firm and there’s no denying that it looks pretty average when specified in its most basic trim levels.

You can forget all that when contemplating the A45 AMG. It wears massive 18-inch alloys for a start; it features a body kit that looks as if it was developed in Gold’s Gym and twin-exit exhausts that look as loud as they sound.