The Mercedes-AMG A35 has been saloonified

RSS_Auto_Poster

Well-known member
Written by Rowan Horncastle
15258.jpg

Remember when cars were individually recognisable? And badge nomenclature made sense? Well, those days are well and truly gone as the nichetastic nature of the motoring industry is showing no signs of slowing down with this, the Mercedes-AMG A35 Saloon. It"s a four-door saloon version of AMG"s entry-level baby hot hatch set to take on the Audi S3 Saloon. But, confusingly, it"s not a CLA. More on that later. What it is, is a fast A-Class (but not too fast to step on the impending A45) with four doors and a bigger boot. It"s 130mm longer than the A-Class hatchback but just as wide, and pretty much the same height when stood back-to-back. The 2,729mm wheelbase is also identical to the A35 hatch and it"s powered by the same 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo engine with 301bhp and 296lb ft. So, in the power stakes, it"s nestled neatly between the 296bhp Golf R and 316bhp Honda Honda Civic Type R and just under the 306bhp arch-rival Audi S3 Saloon. Just like the hatch, AMG"s DCT seven-speed dual-clutch transmission still swaps the cogs, and it"s still got AMG suspension and the variable AMG Performance 4MATIC all-wheel drive system to see off 0-62mph in 4.8 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 155mph.

Date written: 26 Mar 2019

More of this article on the Top gear website

ID: 15258
 
Back
Top