They should’ve just called it ‘the boot option.’
Mercedes-AMG, in its continued pitch to become a more approachable marque, has introduced the smallest saloon they’ve made to date. The A35 Saloon has been unveiled ahead of the the New York International Auto Show where it’ll make its in-the-metal debut in a market that doesn’t get the A-Class in any other form.
Believe it or not, the A35 hatch and A35 saloon are identical under the skin. So there’s a 2.0-litre 4-banger up front putting out 225kW and 400Nm, with power going to an AMG-tweaked 4Matic all-wheel drive system through a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic. So equipped, 100km/h gets called upon in just 4.8-seconds, with V-max rated at 250km/h.
It’s not all about power though, as half the point of getting an AMG is so that it’ll look special (and superior) to a vanilla Mercedes-Benz. To that end, the A35 saloon comes with 18-inch alloys as standard (19s as an option), AMG-tweaked bumpers, twin exhaust exits, silver front splitter, rear diffuser, side-skirts, and a lip spoiler.
Of course if you want to make it even more special, you can help yourself to the AMG Aerodynamics Package, or the AMG Night Package. The former adds relatively minor aerodynamics addenda, while the latter takes all the exterior chrome trim and replaces them with gloss-black items.
As with any modern AMG, the A35 offers up five selectable drive modes, ranging from Slippery into Comfort, Sport, and Sport+, as well as Individual. The first four modes adjust the throttle & transmission mapping, as well as the weight of the steering wheel. And if you have the optional AMG Ride Control setup, the drive modes will also alter the ride experience, naturally.
The A35 saloon may or may not make it to our market, given that the A35 hatch is just as good, and the eventual CLA35 will be more appealing. Regardless, there’s a certain handsomeness of the A35 saloon, something that we’re pretty sure will not be seen on the A45. No, we reckon the A45 models are going to be absolutely bonkers and if anything, the A35’s made us even more excited.
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