Mercedes-AMG A 45 S: Final Edition Sends Off the Hot Hatch at £67,965

Mercedes-AMG is closing out the A 45 S with a Final Edition, priced at £67,965. The farewell model gets no extra power or reworked chassis — buyers are mainly paying for exclusive styling and the status of the last version of a car that has been on sale since 2019.

Under the bonnet is the familiar 2.0-litre turbocharged M139 engine, producing 421bhp and 500Nm of torque through an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission and AMG Performance 4Matic+ all-wheel drive. 0-62mph takes 3.9 seconds, with a top speed of 168mph. Mercedes quotes combined fuel consumption of 9.0-9.2 l/100km and emissions of up to 209g/km.

The Final Edition stands out with matte grey paint, yellow accents on the aerodynamic elements, “45 S” race-style graphics and matching interior trim. Mercedes-Benz has not confirmed how many units the UK will get. Some third-party British listings quote £66,795, so buyers should check the exact price with a dealer order.

The car’s discontinuation has been linked to incoming Euro 7 rules. According to Autocar, the most powerful version of the M139 engine doesn’t meet the new requirements, and upgrading it would be too costly. Mercedes-Benz hasn’t officially confirmed this reasoning. The less powerful AMG A 35 stays on sale, priced from £48,030 in the UK.

The gap between the two models comes to nearly £20,000. The A 35 is the more practical everyday choice, but it falls short of the A 45 S on power, acceleration and the capability of the AWD system with rear-axle torque control.

On the used market, buyers should focus on service history — oil changes, gearbox condition, brakes and tyres — along with signs of frequent Launch Control starts and track use. Final Edition status alone doesn’t make up for missed maintenance or the absence of a full warranty.