What's all this about?
Mercedes-AMG already has the A 35 hatch and, recently, it revealed the A 35 Saloon, too. So, if you think of the CLA, what's the missing piece here?
The Mercedes-AMG CLA 35?
See, that wasn't so hard, now was it? Yup, we've got our third iteration of the hot 'baby' Mercedes family, all of which use the 306hp/400Nm 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine. With the same seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and 4Matic all-wheel drive, that means the CLA 35 can run 0-62mph in 4.9 seconds - actually the slowest of the three, as the hatch can do it in 4.7 seconds and the Saloon 4.8 - while its top speed is limited to 155mph. Best eco-stats are 39.2mpg with 164g/km of CO2, while the CLA 35 gets three-mode adjustable AMG Ride Control suspension, variable-ratio steering and a set of high-performance AMG brakes.
Sounds good. And how do I spot one in the wild?
It has the usual AMG tell-tales: 18-inch alloys (19s an option), a twin-louvred radiator grille, two powerdomes straked down the bonnet, a rear diffuser framing round exhaust pipes, bigger air intakes in and aerodynamic flics on the front bumper, the latest design of AMG Performance steering wheel and sports seats.
Anything else to add?
Following its debut at the New York Auto Show in the middle of this month, order books for the Mercedes-AMG CLA 35 4Matic will open at the end of April before first cars should be on the road by August 2019. Tobias Moers, the CEO of Mercedes-AMG, added: "With its iconic design and agile driving dynamics, the new CLA 35 is an attractive offer for a young, active and lifestyle-conscious target group. These customers define their requirements very clearly: they expect exciting design from their vehicle alongside superior performance and inspiring handling characteristics. The new CLA 35 embodies just this attitude to life - and enables stepping in to the fascinating world of AMG Driving Performance in a particularly emotional way."
Matt Robinson - 8 Apr 2019