Mercedes-AMG has new a tiny rocketship in the form of an A-Class

Remember that new A-Class that we wrote about a few months back? The one that will make its public appearance at the 2018 Paris Motor Show this October? Well it seems that in-house performance division, AMG, has decided to fiddle around with the front-wheel drive chassis to create the most accessible hot hatch from the three pointed star brand.

Dubbed the Mercedes-AMG A 35, this little powerhouse aims to expand the AMG lineup and provide an attractive entry-level option into the world of AMG vehicles. Developed side-by-side with the 2019 A-Class, the A 35 was injected right away with relevant AMG DNA.

Under the hood is a 2.0L four cylinder turbocharged engine that punches out 306 hp and 400 Nm of torque. Gear shifting is taken care of by an AMG Speedshift dual clutch 7-speed transmission with Race-Start (Launch Control), offering maximum acceleration off the line while minimizing wheelspin. The 2019 Mercedes-AMG A 35 also comes standard with all-wheel drive (4MATIC) with torque distribution focused to either the front wheels only or to a 50:50 distribution between both axles. An active exhaust system can be toggled to either wake up your neighbors, or sneak away from the house for a quiet night drive.

There will be five driving modes to play with, namely Slippery, Comfort, Sport, Sport +, and Individual (user customizable). Each of these change a wide array of vehicle characteristics and performance parameters, like throttle response and transmission. Adaptive damping is an available option, and helps tailor the suspension to a set of three user selected modes.

Of course, the Mercedes-AMG A 35 wouldn’t be an AMG without exterior modifications. In a nod to motorsport, the front fascia has a front apron and splitter, with louvres a the edges of the bumper. A subtle sid skirt wraps along the side of the car, and 18-inch light-alloy wheels fill the wells nicely. At the rear, an eye-catching diffuser and spoiler give away performance credentials, and the twin round tailpipes complete the look.

Mercedes’ new MBUX multimedia system replaces the older COMAND interface, offering higher resolution graphics and a more fluid control scheme. The instrument cluster is fully digital, and the dials and information change according to drive modes or user selection. The touchscreen interface allows the display of telemetry data and driving performance numbers. You know, so that your passengers know what kind of g forces they’re dealing with and the best lap time so far on the track.

While we have no details on pricing just yet, or what kind of timeline we can expect for the 2019 Mercedes-AMG A 35 to make it locally, there’s good chance that we’ll see some more info by the first quarter of next year, 2019. Judging by the numbers, and if it’s priced competitively, this tiny AMG can give the local hot hatch market quite a stir.