CAR OF THE WEEK

Stand Out & Power Out - Mercedes-Benz A35 AMG Premium Plus Edition

_____________________________________________________

Welcome to the Mercedes-Benz A35 AMG Premium Plus Edition. A triumph of design, engineering, build quality, and fantastical attention to detail. The Germans sure know how to produce a hot hatch. Everyone knows about the iconic Volkswagen Golf GTI; with its striking red detailing, tartan cloth interior, usable performance, and accessible handling.

That set the standard for hot hatchbacks back in the 70s. The French have had a go and for a few years made a string of incredible icons. The Italians have also contributed with Abarth, Lancia, and so on…. But today we celebrate a future icon: the A35. But have your sunglasses at the ready. It’s painted in Sun Yellow.

Hot hatches are incredible, and, when done right, are some of the most enjoyable cars to drive, but they are a difficult recipe to perfect. See, Mercedes had something of a conundrum ahead of themselves when planning the A35. Having built the popular A45 (a proper Affalterbach pocket rocket), they had to tread a careful line. Make it too aggressive and it would not differentiate itself sufficiently from the A45. But go too conservative and the car would appear mild, dull, and generally uninspiring. But Merc has struck gold with the A35, particularly in Premium Plus guise.

Let’s start with the design. You can’t get away from the fact that the colour; ‘Sun Yellow’, dominates the vehicle’s character. It’s bold, and out-there, yes, but in a likeable, smile-inducing, friendly way. That our machine is specified with the Night Package emphasises the paintwork even more. Gloss Black detailing to the rear wing, front canards, front and rear diffusers, side skirts, and roof panel, make the car aggressive and menacing, but in equal measure, it feels lively, exotic, and different. Any car that provokes an opinion is a good one. It means the designers have done their job properly.

Similarly, the engine is a masterpiece. It may not have the sprinkling of fairy dust that AMG’s fully hand-assembled engines do – the A35 benefits from a reworked A250 turbocharged 2-litre unit, but it still manages to develop 300bhp, 400Nm torque, and accelerate from 0-60mph in 4.5 seconds. It’s smooth, torquey, refined, and well-packaged, imbuing the A35 with a well-rounded demenaour.

Take a step inside and it’s all supple Nappa leather, cold stainless steel, widescreen displays, and strobes of vibrant ambient lighting. It feels more like a nightclub than a car. Boasting wireless charging, an advanced MBUX multimedia system, illuminated door sills, and so much more, it is the perfect example of a contemporary hot hatch. Refined when you need it to be – it can do the commute. But when the weekend arrives, switch to Sport, or Sport+ if you are feeling particularly keen, and enjoy the open road…

Finished in Sun Yellow with a Black leather interior. Our One Owner Mercedes-Benz A35 AMG Premium Plus 4Matic is offered in excellent condition and has covered 8,300 miles. The vehicle comes complete with a Full Mercedes-Benz main dealer service history and benefits from the remainder of a manufacturer warranty until November 2024.

VIEW ADVERT HERE