RUMOUR: MERCEDES-BENZ A25 AMG PACKING TURBO

More details are emerging regarding the performance variant of the upcoming 2013 Mercedes-Benz A-Class. Rumoured to be called the A25 AMG, it is said to use a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine with four cylinders. The car’s main competitors are currently the Audi RS 3 Sportback and the BMW 1 M Coupe. But of course since it’s a Merc, expect more power than these two.

Because the two rivals are worth 250kW each, a high-ranking AMG executive is said to be demanding more, as much as 270kW in fact. Gee, this all sounds like stories by the Brothers Grimm! I mean a 2.0-litre pushing out 270kW? Actually, if you think about the fact that old 1.5-litre F1 turbo engines from the 1980s used to liberate as much as 470kW in some cars, this is entirely possible. Of course those powerplants could rev up to 12 000rpm and only last one race distance, instead of the standard 300 000km for a modern road car.

Last year the FIA decided to introduce 1.6-litre turbo engines in Formula One for the 2014 season. So word is, Merc will develop a version of this motor for road use, specifically for the so-called A25 AMG. With so much development going into it, this engine will probably find more homes in cars like an upcoming CLC AMG model, as well as a Shooting Brake variant.

* Pictured here is the A-Class Concept car