Thabiso Malimela
As one of the seven deadly sins, pride has the potential to bring something that was once great down to its knees. Generally, humility has the ability to take one further than pride alone, and it seems Mercedes-Benz’s slightly unhinged tuning wing AMG thinks so too – unhinged because that’s what one would need to be to do what they do to humdrum cars. Way back when nobody knew what the meaning of economic recession was, AMG cars were only accessible to the relatively wealthy and elite – I guess you could tell that from the far-from-humble price tag on these cars. After the world’s economy went to the dogs, it was only a matter of time before AMG realised that making the brand more accessible was the way forward. And true to that, they gave us the W176 A45 AMG in 2012 which back then boasted the highest power output in its class (265 kW) and of any 4-cylinder turbo engine in the world, while being the cheapest AMG money could buy. However, along with the high power output came a proportionally high price tag and although the A45 AMG was somewhat of a success, its sales was eclipsed by the less powerful but much more affordable Volkswagen Golf R. So it seems the AMG brand was more accessible, however still not yet accessible enough.
Fast forward to 2018 and Jacob Zuma has stepped down, dagga is legalised and there is a new Mercedes-Benz A-Class (W177) which introduces new technology, a new platform and a new name to the AMG brand – the 35. As it was with the A45, the new Mercedes-AMG A35 serves as a new addition to the AMG range of cars, the main aim being to make AMG cars more economically accessible to the general public. Basically what’s been done here is that AMG have taken the A45 and added a dash of humility, or AMG took the A250 and added some panache to it – no matter which side you fall on the glass half-full/half-empty debate, you have to admit that this is great news either way since you now have more AMGs to choose from. It’s like when you go to an Indian restaurant and all they serve is hot and extra hot – sometimes a mild meal is just what you need.
Described by AMG as an “entry-level model in the world of driving performance”, the new AMG A35 4MATIC comes with a long list of performance orientated specifications. The body shell, suspension, drivetrain and driving programs have all been redesigned and fine-tuned to sing the song of performance harmoniously without compromising comfort. This amalgamation of performance and comfort is possible due to the fact that the Mercedes-Benz A-Class was designed in conjunction with AMG and as a performance car from the onset. Here’s some interesting things about the new “baby” AMG:
All-new Powertrain
The new A35 comes fitted with a new and improved 2.0 litre twin-scroll turbocharged 4-cylinder powerplant developing 225 kW. This new powerplant is designed to be both powerful and fuel efficient with usage of some high strength and lightweight materials in its internals. Expect “a supremely lively response and an emotional engine sound” – trust AMG to get the sound right! All this power goes through an AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7G dual clutch gearbox with 7 gear ratios. This fast-shifting transmission allows the A35 to initiate a RACE START function (launch control to you and I) so that ridiculous acceleration is achieved from standstill (0-100 km/h in 4.7 seconds) – combined with the emotional engine/exhaust sound, I see this feature being used more to impress crowds than to exhilarate the car’s occupants. The dual-clutch automatic transmission can also be controlled manually using steering mounted paddle shifters. Along with the transmission is an all new 4MATIC variable all-wheel drive system, which now features an electromechanically actuated multi-disc clutch in the rear which splits torque between the front and rear axles. The electrohydraulic system of old was ditched in favour of significantly faster response and sharper driving dynamics so that you get all the grip you need at an instant.
New Adaptive Suspension
The A35 receives what AMG calls AMG RIDE CONTROL – don’t ask me why it’s in caps, it just is. This new suspension setup features McPherson struts for the front and a 4-link rear axle rigidly mounted to the frame of the car for that extra sporty feel. The optional adaptive damping gives the driver an option to cycle through three of its modes so as to fine tune the ride between agile and comfortable. When all 225 kW become too much, there are 4-piston brake callipers and 350 mm brake discs in the front while the rear houses a single-piston sliding calliper and 330 mm brake disc.
Class-leading Interior
If you haven’t already checked out our initial review of the W177 A-Class, I suggest you do so now because the interior seen there is already leaps and bounds ahead of everything else out there. To usher in the theme of performance, some sporty seats are covered in man-made leather with some red contrasting and red seat belts. There is also some red piping on trim elements and the air vent nozzles receive red rings around them. As per non-performance A-Class, you get the brilliant MBUX infotainment system in its most recent form along with the breath taking digital instrument cluster. And before we move on to something else, can we just sit and admire that steering wheel.
Other Wow! Features
Apart from the very conspicuous yellow paintwork, the A35 will prove easily distinguishable from other cooking model A-Class cars. In the front, there is a front splitter which apart from producing more aerodynamic downforce, is also good for serving as an indicator that a driveway is too steep. On the side there are 18-inch alloy wheels while in the rear, you get a new rear diffuser, a hard-to-miss roof spoiler and two large round tailpipes. The AMG exhaust system features some automatically actuated exhaust flaps that modulate the engine sound from soothing to savage – vrr phaa perhaps?
The A35 will be officially be unveiled next month at the Paris Motor Show (02 October 2018), however you’re most likely to see it on our roads in the first quarter of 2019. Although there is no word on pricing yet, expect it to sit below the upcoming AMG A45 and probably around Audi S3 money.
