New 302bhp Mercedes-AMG A 35 31 | 10 | 2018
THE NEW MERCEDES-AMG A 35 has gone on-sale at Scottish dealerships priced from £35,580. Unveiled at the Paris Motor Show last month, the car is the new entry point into AMG ownership. (Related: Mercedes unveils electric EQC SUV)
Unmistakably an AMG, the A 35 gets 18in alloys, new front and rear bumpers sporting large air inlets and black winglets, slightly widened arches and an unmissable fixed rear wing. (Related: Mercedes ace Hamilton seals fifth F1 world title)
Powered by the latest 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine from Mercedes, it’s been further tweaked and repurposed for use in an AMG. Thanks to the twin-scroll turbocharger and variable valve control, the A 35 pumps out 302bhp and 400Nm torque.
Channelled through a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, power is relayed to all four corners via Mercedes’ 4MATIC all-wheel drive system. The car’s launch system means the A 35 will hit 62mph from standstill in 4.7secs, and carry on to a max of 155mph,
AMG steering wheel and suspension, two seven-inch digital displays, sports exhaust, reversing camera, climate control and keyless go are standard on all models. As you would expect, there are a number of options packs available. These include the AMG Premium Plus pack which adds a larger 10.25-inch central display, adaptive LED headlamps, electrically-adjustable seats, a panoramic sunroof and a Burmester surround sound system. Cost? An extra £3895.
The car comes with five driving modes: Slippery, Comfort, Sport, Sport+ and Individual. In Sport and Sport+ the engine and transmission become more aggressive in their responses, while the new Slippery mode reduces the engine’s power and encourages early upshifts.
A new AMG Dynamics programme — which uses the brakes on the inside wheel on the rear axle to increase agility when cornering — also features on the A 35. Buyers can also opt for a new adaptive damping system, which serves up three different suspension modes.
The cabin of the A 35 mirrors much of the standard A-Class, but is further enhanced by the addition of eye-catching, but subtle AMG flourishes, including the microfiber and man-made leather sports seats, a flat-bottomed AMG steering wheel and digital AMG instrument cluster.
The new AMG also gets Mercedes’ latest MBUX infotainment systems which can be controlled via voice or touch control. A new optional AMG Track Pace function, which links directly to the system, can log 80 vehicle-specific pieces of data when driving on track.
Related: Mercedes confirms X-Class V6 pick-up
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Jim McGill