Mercedes is building a fleet of small A-Class offerings ranging from saloons to performance cars. There will be at least two AMG flavours coming – the hot AMG A45 and the more restrained AMG A35, which is the model captured here in the video. It will take on the likes of the Audi S3. While the video doesn’t give anything away, we already know a lot about the vehicle.
We know this will be the entry point for customers into the AMG family that will debut sometime later this year – possibly around the same time the U.S. A-Class is announced. The regular A-Class will be a 2019 model while the hotter AMG versions going on sale later as a 2020 model.
The video shows a heavily camouflaged prototype with an aggressive rear diffuser that's accentuated by a dual exhaust system. It's harder to tell any specific details at the front. However, the design should have large intakes at a minimum, and possibly a front splitter – though from the video that looks unlikely.
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The A35 should be powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine, which will pull triple duty by also powering the GLA35 crossover and CLA34 saloon. The A35 should produce 335 brake horspower and 332 pound-feet of torque, which would be plenty for the compact offering. The AMG is rumoured to have an electrically assisted turbo and a 48-volt mild-hybrid system with power going to all four wheels through Mercedes’ 4Matic all-wheel-drive system. The AMG A45 will have significantly more power – more than 400bhp.
We should see a slate of A-Class reveals later this year, including the A-Class saloon. The reveal should happen at the Paris Motor Show in September or the Los Angeles Auto Show almost two months later. Until then, we will have to keep an eye out for any performance news that leaks.
Source: walkoART - Videos via YouTube
Gallery: 2018 Mercedes-AMG A35 spy photos
