A new A-Class means a new A-Class AMG. This is it, the A35 AMG.
That's right, 35 is lower than 45. But why did they take a step back?
Because they're doing that across the range. C43, E43, CLS53, whilst a 63 is on its way...
Everywhere Mercedes is presenting inbetween versions. And that's not a crazy idea,
because the 'real' AMG's have so much power that there's space to have sporty versions below them,
which is a tad more accessible. Audi has been doing that for years with their S-models,
which are positioned below the RS-models. Mercedes saw how popular those S-models were,
so they did the same with 'entry'-versions of AMG-cars. BMW is doing the same as well, with their M235i, which is below the M2.
You might think an 'entry'-level AMG sounds a little cowardly, but don't let that fool you. This still produces 306 horsepower,
which is almost as much as the facelifted Golf R.
Of course, from the outside it's visible that it's an AMG. The wheels, the bumpers, the logo's, and so on...
It's the same story on the inside, even if it's only because of the alcantara steering wheel which I really like.
It has sporty bucket seats, some nice lines here and there, all of it to distiguish it from the normal A-Class.
Also, what I like very much as well are the two knobs on the steering wheel which control everything.
On the left I can set the dampers or the automatic gearbox, and on the right I can change the driving modes.
Ferrari once started it with the Manettino, Porsche followed with the Sport Chrono pack,
and I think it's very nice Mercedes has a similar button now. It's the best position as well,
you don't have to be scared that it's gone in a nice corner. You just flip the switch and it's fabulous.
When it comes to the drive, it really reminds me of the previous AMG, the previous A45.
It's powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre, which produced 380 horsepower after the facelift and in here,
it only produces 306 horsepower. So yeah, it's slightly slower,
but it's still quick enough for a car like this. The engine has the same personality as well.
That means it's a true boost engine. You don't have to build up, because the turbo will do that for you.
That's when the turbo produces all of its boost and you'll hit the rev limiter pretty quickly.
You'll have to shift and you can remain there eventually. It's a very short powerband, but there's a lot of performance.
Personally, I think the engine misses personality. Sure, it delivers its performance,
and it's quick enough, but an engine in an Audi S3 for example... That just feels more alive.
The same goes for the engine in the Megane RS, especially from the previous generation.
The Mercedes-engine just produces power. It sounds pretty flat as well.
Most of the sounds come from the exhaust. It bangs, it crackles, you name it.
It doesn't really translate to video, but that's the way it impresses pedestrians.
It's tighter on the road than a normal A-Class. More than the previous generation actually.
The previous A-Class already was a sturdy car. There's not a lot of heaving.
That's pretty good. When you're cornering a tad quicker however,
and you lift your throttle... The rear will stay on the ground and it won't move...
like in a Megane RS, Focus RS or Golf GTI. They want to move though, and they'll let you play with the balance.
That's not the case in this car. If you aim the nose in the right way, you can floor it and it'll catapult itself.
A lot of people like that way of performance, and that's what this A35 does very well.
I think this will sell well in the Netherlands. If you think about how many A45's you saw on the roads,
especially for such an expensive car. People didn't want a big car, but they did want performance,
and an A45 was their solution. It was a little extreme and a little harder than this A35.
But the reason people bought it for, can be fulfilled perfectly by this A35.
Commuting, driving on the highway or in the city, and putting your foot down sometimes.
This A35 offers you just as much pleasure. That means you don't have to wait for the A45 AMG,
which will absolutely come. I don't know if it's going to be called A45, but there's going to be a 'real' AMG-version of the A-Class.
It's expected in the first half of 2019. But, now we've got this A35 which is a tad calmer than...
the previous A45 but almost similar when it comes to performance, it means there's room above this.
That means the new A45 is going to incredibly brutal. Think of Focus RS's, think of surpassing 400 horsepower...
and now I'm incredibly curious.