VIDEO: What makes the Merc A 45 AMG a real AMG?

There’s no doubting that the Merc A 45 AMG is a well-respected vehicle among car enthusiasts, not with its headlining performance figures: 360 hp and 450 Nm from a turbocharged 2.0 litre engine (the most powerful of its kind, in fact) and 4.6-second 0-100 km/h time.

Those are all bonafide AMG figures, yet some may question if it’s a real AMG and not just a really quick A-Class with added street cred. A four-wheel drive super hot hatch with a turbo four up front, it really does sound like a Volkswagen Golf R but with a Mercedes and AMG badge.

It is more than that though; can the speed alone justify the badge or is it really special enough to drive to warrant that hallowed and prestigious name that’s known for its mad V8 engines and thrilling dynamics? Mercedes-Benz and AMG certainly think so, as this video proves.

The clip explains what makes the Merc A 45 AMG special, as presented by one of the company’s Driving Academy Instructor, Lance David Arnold. Forget his passing resemblance to Ryan Gosling for the full three and a half minutes and enjoy the clip and that glorious backfiring sound on upshifts.