Set to make its world debut in Paris next month, the new entry-level AMG fettled A-class distinguishes itself from the lower A250 Sport by virtue of a mesh grille with a single frame logo bar, a more pronounced front splitter, the AMG Line bodykit, twin-spoke 18-inch light alloy wheels, a revised rear apron with a new diffuser, dual exhaust outlets and a new rear wing.
More extensive are the changes underneath the skin, where AMG has equipped with the A35 with a specific Ride Control System that is claimed to aid stability, and a three-mode Adaptive Damping setup. In addition, the Dynamic Select drive mode selector offers a choice of five settings; Comfort, Slippery, Sport, Sport+ and Individual, while the stability programme can switched to Basic or Advanced modes.
Fitted with a revised electro-mechanical sports steering rack, the A35 also benefits from upgraded brakes, painted silver, with the four caliper setup at the front featuring a disc size of 350mm, while the single rears measure 330mm. The underneath changes are rounded off by an AMG sports exhaust.
Inside, Mercedes-AMG has made more subtle tweaks in the form of the AMG sports steering wheel wrapped in Artico man-made leather and Dinamica micro-fibres, AMG sport seats finished in the same material but with a choice of red stitching and red seatbelts or black/digital grey, unique AMG readouts for the MBUX infotainment system and digital instrument cluster, galvanised gear shift paddles and a Track Pace telemetry readout.
As previously indicated, motivation comes from the same 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine as the A250 and imminent A45, but sans the speculated EQ Boost mild-hybrid electric motor, with respective outputs of 225kW/400Nm. Again mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, albeit with different ratios, and the AMG fettled 4Matic all-wheel drive system,Affalterbach’s engineers claims a top speed of 250km/h and 0-100km/h in 4.7 seconds.
On sale in Western Europe from January next year, Mercedes-Benz South Africa is yet to announce local availability, but expect the third quarter as a possibility.
