‘Win on Sunday, sell on Monday’ has created some incredible homologation cars and commemorative special editions over the years. Many less brilliant ones, too, shamelessly cashing in on motorsport success - but it’s always the gooduns that come to mind first. And while the influence of competition on road cars may be diminished in the 2020s, it hasn’t disappeared entirely - don’t forget the GR Yaris Ogier and Rovanpera editions…
Even to the well-intentioned, the Mercedes-AMG A45 Petronas World Champion Edition may not immediately spring to mind. It was commissioned by the factory in 2015 to celebrate Lewis Hamilton’s F1 championship that year, his third title and second with Mercedes. Any excuse for a party, right? Albeit a fairly subdued, modest celebration that doesn’t deviate too far from standard spec, of course. This is still a Mercedes.
The Petronas was based on the facelift of the original A45 AMG, meaning the useful uptick in power for the 2.0-litre turbo from 360hp to 381hp. It received as standard the useful addition of the AMG Dynamic Plus Package, which brought a front limited-slip diff, Race mode and adaptive dampers - well worth having on any A45 of this era. The most notable change, however, were the Petrol Green accents, found on the sills, bonnet and wheels. And throughout the interior, in fact. If the mechanical spec was familiar, there’d never be any doubt cosmetically of the Petronas’ status.
Just 30 were made for the entire world, but half were allocated to Britain. We love hot hatches, we love special editions, we love Lewis Hamilton. And actually, while it tends to be forgotten a bit now, the original A45 - if less fun than the current generation - was pretty good. The engine was a monster, the grip infallible, the brake pedal brilliant. There wasn’t anything to match it for cross-country pace, and the facelift with the Plus Package was better still.
This one is an interesting example, as a low mileage (21,000) specimen of a very rare limited edition, albeit one with some modifications. It’s now more powerful than a new A45 (447hp) thanks to SA Tuning’s ECU work and an upgraded exhaust, plus the Petrol Green now extends under the bonnet as well. Presumably those buying into a car like this will be really keen on the Petronas association and the A45, so those upgrades will likely be received well. Nobody is buying this by accident.
Especially as the Petronas is a good deal more money than a standard car. This one is £40k, which actually buys an early version of the current, 421hp car. But none of those will be quite as rare, quite as prized, quite as heavily Petrol Green accented as this car. The A45 presents really nicely, will be fast as heck, and serve as a reminder of AMG’s glory days in F1. That’ll be more than enough for some.
SPECIFICATION | MERCEDES-AMG A45 PETRONAS 2015 WORLD CHAMPION EDITION
Engine: 1,991cc 4-cyl, turbocharged
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch, four-wheel drive
Power (hp): 381@6,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 350@2,250-5,000rpm
MPG: 40.9 (claimed)
CO2: 162g/km
First registered: 2016
Recorded mileage: 21,000
Price new: £39,995 (standard A45)
Yours for: £39,995
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