The hot high-performance Mercedes A 45 AMG is available to order now with prices starting at £37,845 and first deliveries scheduled for August.

The new A 45 AMG is the first production car to achieve 181 hp per litre, also first AMG model with fewer than six cylinders, the first compact AMG and finally the first all-wheel drive A-Class to arrive in the UK.

Power comes from a hand-built 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine with 360 horsepower and 450 Nm of torque mated to AMG Speedshift DCT 7-speed sports transmission and AMG 4MATIC all-wheel drive.

0-62 mph comes in just 4.6 seconds, returning 40.9 mpg on the combined cycle while emitting 161 g/km of CO2.

Other performance updates include new braking system, springs and dampers.

Aerodynamic and visual updates compared to the standard A-Class include a new front bumper with extensions to the airdams, new AMG grille, a deep front splitter, gloss black sill extensions, new rear bumper, new exhaust tips and new 18- or 19-inch wheels.

Interior boasts AMG Performance seats in nappa leather with red stitching, a sports steering wheel in nappa leather with red stitching, red seat belts and carbon weave textured trim.