Mercedes-AMG is introducing four new models at the NYIAS next month, including the new A 35 sedan.
It’s been a busy year for Mercedes, the German luxury marque rolling out an array of new products, ranging from the next-generation CLA to the first model from its all-electric EQ sub-brand, the EQC.
The onslaught will continue in the months ahead, and that will include four new high-performance offerings from another sub-brand, Mercedes-AMG, which plans to reveal four products to mark the opening of the annual New York International Auto Show. Mercedes is lifting the covers enough for us to get a look at one of those four offerings, the AMG-tuned version of its smallest model, dubbed the A 35.
“Sport sedans are the origin of Mercedes-AMG and part of the brand’s core,” said Tobias Moers, CEO of Mercedes-AMG. “With our new A 35, we are transporting this history into modern times in the form of a very attractive model that serves as a point of entry into the world of AMG and also appeals to new customer groups.”
Last year marked the first time the Mercedes-Benz A-Class came to the States. The addition of the AMG version marks another first, the A 35 slipping under the performance brand’s previous entry model, the CLA 35.
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The new Mercedes-AMG A 35 follows the debut of the A-Class in the U.S. last year.
AMG decided to go with a sedan version of the A-Class, rather than the hatchback. The A 35 shares the same underlying platform as the CLA. Here, however, its wheelbase measures 107.4 inches. It hasn’t revealed the rest of the sedan’s exterior dimensions but they are expected to come in close to those of the standard A 35 model’s numbers.
The automaker does note that the A 35 has a surprisingly roomy cabin, with rear-seat passengers getting 37.2 inches of headroom, for one thing. And there’s enough cargo space for a long weekend’s road trip.
Of course, the primary selling point for any AMG model is performance and there, the A 35 appears to deliver.
It’s powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline four punching out 302 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. That’s fed into a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox and distributed to all four wheels using an AMG-tuned version of the Mercedes 4Matic system.
The A-Class has generated some controversy among classic Mercedes fans as it is, at its heart, a rear-drive platform. The A 35 delivers all torque to the front wheels under normal circumstances, but half its power can flow rearward when needed. Meanwhile, independently braking all four wheels allows for torque vectoring.
The new A 35 features plenty of AMG cues, including the flat-bottomed steering wheel. And the A 35 features a distinctive ambient lighting set-up.
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The automaker claims the AMG A35 can launch from 0 to 60 in just 4.7 seconds. It isn’t yet releasing top speed numbers.
The new model also features a dynamically adjustable suspension that can be set to a number of different levels of stiffness. In all, a motorist can choose from five different modes that also set the behavior of other vehicle dynamics, including steering, throttle and transmission responsiveness.
As for visual details, the automaker notes that the A 35 is distinguished by its unique “grille with twin louvers, the AMG front bumper with flics on the air intakes, a front splitter and silver chrome trim elements are distinguishing AMG design features on the A 35.” Additionally, “the trunk lip spoiler and the two round tailpipe trims firmly characterize the AMG design from the rear.”
Twin-spoke 18-inch light alloy wheels are standard, with 19s available.
The A 35 is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline four punching out 302 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque.
Inside, there are a number of AMG cues, including the flat-bottomed steering wheel. And the A 35 features a distinctive ambient lighting set-up. But what may catch the interest of young, tech-minded buyers is the integrated MBUX user interface. First launched on the A-Class last year, it is an automotive equivalent of the Amazon Alexa and Google Home voice assistant technologies.
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Pricing will be released closer to launch. The Mercedes-AMG A 35 will reach U.S. showrooms later this year as a 2020 model.