Mercedes-AMG officially confirmed that starting next year, the most affordable way to own a part of the AMG brand will be the AMG A35 hatchback. Using a detuned version of the turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four engine from the near $80,000 AMG A45, the more affordable A35 is expected to compete with the VW Golf R and carry a price tag closer to $40,000.
Not many details are known as of yet, but when speaking to Top Gear, AMG boss Tobias Moers said “it’s a step into a new segment where we’ve never been present in the past. I have my own approach how to do that; we have to have a close look at the competitors and who is going to be our benchmark. Then we work out what the task is of the A35 in setting the new benchmark.”
With that in mind, it’s safe to assume the A35 will have at least 300 horsepower considering the competition in that price range –the Honda Civic Type-R and aforementioned Golf R — have similar outputs.
It’s also reported that the AMG A35 will make its debut sometime next year, most likely at the Geneva Auto Show or as early as the North American International Auto Show, in Detroit, in January.
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