Summarize

Mercedes-AMG A35

Deputy hot A to take on S3, M140i

Mercedes-AMG has added a milder 225kW 400Nm turbo petrol 2-litre A35 turning on-demand AWD via a seven-speed dual clutch gearbox in a stiffened shell. Good for a 4.7 second 0-100km/h and 250km/h and sitting between the A250 and new A45 on the range as it rivals M140i, S3 and Golf R for R100K less than A45, the A250 based engine gets reduced back pressure twin-scroll turbos, reprogrammed valve timing and a bespoke variable tone exhaust, while heavily revised 4Matic all-wheel drive variably distributes of drive from front to 50:50 all-wheel drive via an electro-mechanical multi-plate clutch with Slippery, Comfort, Sport, Sport+ and Individual driving modes and there are bigger brakes too.