Mercedes-AMG A35
In the past couple of years, the Mercedes-AMG brand has made a name for itself as one of the most desirable brands of supercars. With examples like the AMG GT, SL55, or even the G63, AMG vehicles have become synonymous with their massive engines. Yet it isn’t always about V8s or V12, AMG also offers more practical performance that can be enjoyed every day in the form of the 35 series of models.
One such example is the Mercedes-AMG A35. The A35 is just one of the many models in the 35 series that include the CLA 35, GLA 35, and GLB35.
The A35 serves as the gateway to the AMG range and the performance luxury it is known to offer. It’s based on the A Class sporty compact hatch model line but upgraded with AMG’s hallmark character, features, and power.
Exterior
What distinguishes this AMG A35 from the regular A Class is its distinctly sportier look. There’s a large amount of aero all around, giving it a more aggressive look than the standard fare. Among these are the signature AMG grille, front apron with larger front splitter, 19-inch AMG five-twin-spoke light-alloy wheels and AMG rear wing that complete the look.
Interior
The same car has been brought to the interior with sporty touches in the cabin. The dashboard offers a unique and much more modern feel. Among its modern features is a 64-color ambient-light system complete with backlit center vents. The driver gets a performance steering wheel in nappa leather with steering wheel buttons to remotely control the trip readout and entertainment.
Behind the wheel are dual 10.25-inch displays on the dashboard with MBUX infotainment system. It boasts of a voice control system let you communicate with your vehicle just by saying “Hey Mercedes” followed by a command. The diver can also control the MBUX system by fiddling with the steering-wheel buttons, using the touchpad on the center console, tapping the screen, or providing voice commands. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration comes standard.
Engine
Providing the ‘gateway to performance’ is a 2.0 liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. It may not sound like much but this example produces a staggering 306 horsepower and 400nm of torque. It’s linked to an AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7G dual-clutch transmission. The gear ratios are close to return quick acceleration in all speed ranges, combined with fast shifting. That’s not its only trick. This car also gets standard all-wheel drive care of AMG Performance 4MATIC for the best possible traction.
Safety
Finally, it is not short on safety either. Bringing it to a stop is the AMG high-performance brake system with silver calipers that enables more breaking power. It also comes with more practical every day systems like Blind Spot Assist to detect a car or bicycle with a red triangle indicator on the side mirror. There’s also Active Lane Keeping Assist to stay on the correct lane.
On the road
Of course, specs are only part of the story. To truly feel what the A 35 is capable, Mercedes-Benz Philippine brought us to the twisty roads of Tagaytay to test the car out. With winding roads, steep inclines and long straights, it was the perfect testbed for all the car could do.
As you can expect, the A 35 offers a variety of driving modes with the typical comfort, sport, and other modes. And while sporty cars like this typically offer a bumpy ride even in comfort, the A35 felt no different from regular Mercedes sedan. It absorbed the bumps easily, returned a light steering feel and was a pleasure to drive even over the rougher road sections.
Of course, once in sport more, it truly comes alive with surprising acceleration. The once light steering wheel gains weight but still offers a connected feeling to the road. The all-wheel drive is truly a blessing returning a reassuring feeling of constant grip, even on the tightest turns. For those that want to shift manually, there’s an upshift indicator, making rev-matching a lot easier. There are also available displays like a G-meter and engine data.
Sport for every day
Typical AMG customers don’t expect to drive their sports cars every day. Yet for a buying curious about what the difference AMG offers, the A 35 offers the best of both worlds to make the shift truly worth it. It’s a truly practical car with dual personalities, make it conceivable to drive every day, yet still with the same performance just a button press away. It’s not muted by any means as the ‘35’ may suggest. We drove the same route with older AMG 45 and 63 models and found the acceleration and performance at par.
Indeed Mercedes-Benz calls the 35 the gateway to performance, but with the flexibility it offers and the comparable performance, you may not need to got all the way to a 45, 55 or 63.
The Mercedes-AMG A 35 is now available at any Mercedes-Benz dealership nationwide. Visit www.mercedes-benz.ph/amg-a35 for more details.