autoevolution
 

Mercedes-AMG A35 Debuts With 306 HP and 400 Nm, Matching the Golf R

The least hot of the Mercedes-AMG hot hatchbacks has officially debuted, ending about a year of speculation as to what lies under its hood. We are talking about the A35 4Matic.
Mercedes-AMG A35 Debuts With Same 306 HP and 400 Nm as Golf R 29 photos
Photo: Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-AMG A35 Debuts With Same 306 HP and 400 Nm as Golf RMercedes-AMG A35 Debuts With Same 306 HP and 400 Nm as Golf RMercedes-AMG A35 Debuts With Same 306 HP and 400 Nm as Golf RMercedes-AMG A35 Debuts With Same 306 HP and 400 Nm as Golf RMercedes-AMG A35 Debuts With Same 306 HP and 400 Nm as Golf RMercedes-AMG A35 Debuts With Same 306 HP and 400 Nm as Golf RMercedes-AMG A35 Debuts With Same 306 HP and 400 Nm as Golf RMercedes-AMG A35 Debuts With Same 306 HP and 400 Nm as Golf RMercedes-AMG A35 Debuts With Same 306 HP and 400 Nm as Golf RMercedes-AMG A35 Debuts With Same 306 HP and 400 Nm as Golf RMercedes-AMG A35 Debuts With Same 306 HP and 400 Nm as Golf RMercedes-AMG A35 Debuts With Same 306 HP and 400 Nm as Golf RMercedes-AMG A35 Debuts With Same 306 HP and 400 Nm as Golf RMercedes-AMG A35 Debuts With Same 306 HP and 400 Nm as Golf RMercedes-AMG A35 Debuts With Same 306 HP and 400 Nm as Golf RMercedes-AMG A35 Debuts With Same 306 HP and 400 Nm as Golf RMercedes-AMG A35 Debuts With Same 306 HP and 400 Nm as Golf RMercedes-AMG A35 Debuts With Same 306 HP and 400 Nm as Golf RMercedes-AMG A35 Debuts With Same 306 HP and 400 Nm as Golf RMercedes-AMG A35 Debuts With Same 306 HP and 400 Nm as Golf RMercedes-AMG A35 Debuts With Same 306 HP and 400 Nm as Golf RMercedes-AMG A35 Debuts With Same 306 HP and 400 Nm as Golf RMercedes-AMG A35 Debuts With Same 306 HP and 400 Nm as Golf RMercedes-AMG A35 Debuts With Same 306 HP and 400 Nm as Golf RMercedes-AMG A35 Debuts With Same 306 HP and 400 Nm as Golf RMercedes-AMG A35 Debuts With Same 306 HP and 400 Nm as Golf RMercedes-AMG A35 Debuts With Same 306 HP and 400 Nm as Golf RMercedes-AMG A35 Debuts With Same 306 HP and 400 Nm as Golf R
Obviously, the car is motivated by a 2-liter turbo engine, just as everybody expected. The 4Matic and 7-speed DCT gearbox are also perfectly understandable, but the output numbers are somewhat surprising.

We expected 340 HP, but are getting just 306 HP (metric, 302 bhp) and 400 Nm (295 lb-ft) of torque. If those numbers sound familiar, that's because the Golf R ones after it was forced into complying with new regulations. The TTS facelift makes 306 HP too, so the Audi S3 will join this club. The websites don't show it yet because VW Group is in over their heads with testing right now. And since the BMW X2 M35i makes 306 HP too, so should the M135i... or whatever it's called. The only difference is peak torque rises to 450 Nm (332 lb-ft).

It's quite unusual that Mercedes left the 4Matic in the name of the model, and it's probably not going to stick with the no-German speaking crowd. But AWD is undoubtedly useful if you want to sprint like a rabbit being chased by foxes. In this regard, the A35 is fully capable of doing 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds and doing 250 km/h (155 mph).

Cosmetically, the A35 4Matic looks like an A 250 AMG Line with a radical body kit. For instance, the front bumper is the same but has black aero elements bolted, a new silver grille insert and honeycomb lower grille.

Around the back, you can't miss the bolt-on wing, the dual exhaust, and an excellent diffuser. But we bet there's a way to buy this car without any of these frills.

The oily bits have all been improved over the standard model. For instance, you now have 13.7-inch front discs with four-piston calipers. Stiffer suspension can be optionally ordered in the adaptive flavor, while the steering has an AMG setup as well. We hear there's even a "Slippery" mode for the AMG Dynamic Select System. Sounds like fun!

If you liked the article, please follow us:  Google News icon Google News Youtube Instagram X (Twitter)
About the author: Mihnea Radu
Mihnea Radu profile photo

Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
Full profile

 

Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?

You will only receive our top stories