The Final Edition of Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 S: a lasting legacy in compact performance

It’s the end of an era as Mercedes-AMG confirms only 15 examples of the CLA 45 S Final for South Africa, marking the end of the road for one of the most extreme compact performance sedans ever sold locally.

It’s always been a niche product, part four-door coupé, part hot hatch and very much a car built around outright performance. The Final Edition doesn’t change the mechanical bits but adds visual differentiation for a model that helped redefine what a four-cylinder performance car could be.

Exterior

All 15 South African Final Edition cars are finished in night black, giving the CLA a deliberately understated base colour contrasting with the edition-specific detailing.

The most obvious are the large “45 S” door decals, available in either black or yellow, along with yellow AMG logos on the side mirrors. It rides on matte black 19-inch AMG forged wheels with a cross-spoke design, complemented by gloss black brake callipers carrying white AMG branding.

Mercedes-AMG has also included both the Night Package and Night Package II. These add high-gloss black mirror housings and trim, dark chrome tailpipe finishes, and black chrome detailing on the grille struts and exterior badges.

Most of the drama comes from the low stance, wide track and aggressive AMG-specific front and rear bumpers.

Interior

Inside, the Final Edition sticks closely to the existing CLA 45 S layout, but trim changes distinguish it from the standard model.

AMG Performance seats are upholstered in a mix of Artico synthetic leather and Microcut microfibre, finished with yellow contrast stitching. The same stitching appears on the door panels and dashboard.

The front headrests get embroidered “45 S” logos, while a Final Edition badge is mounted on the centre console.

The AMG Performance steering wheel is trimmed in Nappa leather and Microcut with yellow stitching, paired with aluminium interior trim featuring AMG graphics. Illuminated AMG door sills glow yellow, and bespoke AMG floor mats complete the interior updates.

It retains the dual-screen MBUX set-up, AMG-specific displays and the driving modes.

Engine and transmission

The headline act remains AMG’s hand-built 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 310kW and 500Nm, making it the most powerful series-production four-cylinder engine currently offered by the brand.

Performance figures are unchanged: 0–100km/h takes 4.1 seconds, while top speed is electronically limited to 270km/h. 

Power is delivered through the eight-speed AMG Speedshift DCT dual-clutch transmission. The AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel-drive system varies torque distribution across the rear axle, enabling everything from maximum traction to a dedicated drift mode.

With only 15 units available locally, it’s aimed squarely at collectors and AMG loyalists rather than new buyers to the brand, and very much a product of an era that’s rapidly coming to an end.

It comes with a five-year/100,000km Service and Maintenance Plan.

Price: R1,721,234.