Rumors of an entry-level Mercedes-AMG A-Class have
been floating around for awhile and spy photographers have even snapped
prototypes on multiple occasions. It was initially believed the car would be
called the A40 but AMG CEO Tobias Moers recently told Top Gear it will wear the
A35 moniker.
Set to slot beneath the A45, the A35 will be a
hot-hatch that is designed to battle the Audi S3 and Volkswagen Golf R. As
Moers explained, "It’ll be the A45’s little brother" and it will have
a "low" price point.
Moers declined to say what trade offs customers can
expect but noted the lower price means they can't do everything to the A35 that
they'll do to the A45. This undoubtedly means we can expect a less powerful
engine and less extreme performance modifications.
The car will reportedly be powered by a turbocharged
2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and previous reports have suggested it could develop
around 340 hp. That's an impressive figure but it still leaves plenty of room
for the A45 which is slated to have more than 400 hp.
Besides talking about the A35, Moers said the CLS 53
will debut at the North American International Auto Show in January. The
executive also hinted at the end of AMG-tuned V12 engines by saying the market
has changed and “We still have V12
aficionados but they’re more into Maybach." Moers added the company
doesn't need luxury cars like that in their lineup so it "could be that
this is the last generation of V12 AMG S-Class’.”
Cr : Carscoops