Mercedes-Benz A38 AMG
The original Mercedes-Benz A-Class was far from sporty. Underpowered engines and disastrous results in the infamous “elk test” made the strange little hatchback anything but a performance icon. AMG decided to change that — and they did so with style, boldness, and exclusivity.
The Mercedes-Benz A38 AMG (also known as the A190 Twin) remains one of Affalterbach’s most audacious creations. AMG engineers didn’t just add a flashy body kit and brakes from the E55 AMG — they also installed a second 1.9-liter engine in the rear floor, doubling the total output to 250 horsepower.
Each M166 engine powered its nearest axle, giving the A38 all-wheel drive. The car could sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds and had an electronically limited top speed of 230 km/h. Mercedes seriously considered producing the car in limited numbers, but ultimately the project was deemed too complex and costly.
In the end, only four A38 AMGs were built in the late 1990s. Two of them were given to McLaren-Mercedes Formula 1 drivers Mika Häkkinen and David Coulthard.
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