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Mercedes-AMG A35 headed for Paris – report

Communications boss also confirms hotter A45 will be offered in two flavours as well.


Mercedes-AMG is planning to reveal the A35 hatchback at the Paris motor show in October – according to a new report.

Speaking with Indian Autos Blog at the launch of the updated AMG C63 range, Mercedes-AMG's senior manager for marketing and communications, Dominik Gruel, indicated the mid-tier performance version of the new A-Class hatch is on track for a Paris reveal.

"Yeah, you will see," he said, when asked whether the entry-level AMG version would be attending the October event.

"In Paris, it will definitely be for the first time."

Additionally, Gruel told the publication that the next-generation AMG A45 – which will be launched after the A35 – will be offered in "45 and 45 S" trims, meaning the A-Class performance range will expand from the current one variant to three.

When it launches, the AMG A35 will fill the gap between the A250 and the A45. It's expected to have a version of Mercedes's 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine developing between 200 and 220kW.

It's possible it will use the 48V mild-hybrid setup from the recently-launched E350 coupe and convertible, along with the new CLS350, which all feature a 220kW/400Nm 2.0-litre turbo four, while the 48V 'EQ Boost' system provides 10kW/150Nm of electric assistance for short periods up to 2500rpm.

Considering the larger E350 Coupe hits triple figures in 5.9 seconds, the much smaller and likely all-wheel driven AMG A35 should undercut the 5.0-second mark, putting it in the same ballpark as the Audi S3 and Volkswagen Golf R.

Meanwhile, the hotter AMG A45 and A45 S will use an even more powerful version of the new 2.0-litre turbo, likely nudging or even eclipsing the 300kW barrier.

The current model already makes 280kW and 475Nm, so 300kW/500Nm from a revised engine and the possibility of 48V mild-hybrid technology seems achievable.

"We don’t want to give a tip or an advantage to our competitors, but we do need to be over 300kW - that’s the new standard," Tobias Moers, AMG boss, told CarAdvice at the New York motor show in 2017.

The extra grunt could see the A45 dip under the 4.0-second barrier for its 0-100 claim, which would be a first in the hot/hyper hatch class – currently, the A45 claims 4.2 seconds and arch-rival Audi claims 4.1 seconds for the RS3.

Indian Autos Blog speculates that the A45 S may also get a track-focused arsenal in addition to a more powerful engine, including a track modes for the traction control and ESP systems.

Should the A35 debut in Paris, we'd likely see the A45 and A45 S revealed very late this year or early next. Stay tuned to CarAdvice for all the latest.

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