Mercedes-AMG A45 S bows out with £68,000 Final Edition

The Mercedes-AMG A45 S is being discontinued, and the German manufacturer is marking its departure with a Final Edition model priced at £68,000 that brings the curtain down on one of the most powerful hot hatches ever built.

The A45 S arrived in 2019 powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 416bhp and 369lb ft of torque, figures that translated into a 0 to 62mph time of 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 168mph. Those numbers put it in genuine sports car territory for the seven years it spent on sale. According to multiple reports, the high-output version of the M139 engine used in the A45 S was unable to meet the incoming Euro 7 emissions regulations without an expensive and extensive re-engineering programme, making a successor impractical. Mercedes-AMG has not publicly confirmed that reasoning, but the outcome is the same: the 415bhp variant is being retired.

The less powerful A35, which sits below the A45 S in the AMG range, is expected to remain available for the time being, so buyers looking for a hot hatch from the Affalterbach stable will still have an option, though nothing approaching the performance of the outgoing flagship. For anyone who has been considering an A45 S, the Final Edition represents the last opportunity to buy one new, and at £68,000 it commands a significant premium over mainstream hot hatch alternatives.

Owners of existing A45 S models may want to think carefully about servicing and long-term maintenance now that the model is reaching the end of its production run. Using a specialist independent garage can help keep running costs reasonable as the car ages and dealer networks become less focused on the model. If you want to compare servicing options or find a trusted local mechanic before your next service is due, Garage.co.uk is a straightforward place to search for rated garages in your area.