New price leading AMG sedan model offers 225kW and a 0 to 100km/h time of 4.8sec

Mercedes-Benz’s AMG performance car division has added a new price-leading four-door model to its line-up in the form of the four-wheel drive A35 4Matic sedan.

It is the second of Mercedes-Benz’s latest generation of compact models to receive the go-fast treatment following the A35 4Matic hatchback, which went on sale in selected markets across Europe late last year.

Pricing has yet to be announced, though the A35 4Matic sedan is planned to be positioned beneath the C43 and will compete against the Audi S3 sedan and upcoming BMW M240i Gran Coupe due for introduction in 2020.

"Following the very successful launch of the hatchback model, things are moving along dynamically in the compact class segment at AMG,” Mercedes-AMG CEO Tobias Moers said. “Sport sedans are the origin of Mercedes-AMG and part of the brand's core.”

The new AMG model receives the same transversely-mounted turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder gasoline engine as the A35 hatchback. Based around the M254 designated unit used by the A250 sedan, it produces 225kW at 5800rpm and 400Nm of torque at 3000rpm.

The boosted reserves are sent to all four wheels through a seven-speed dual clutch automatic gearbox - a combination Mercedes-AMG says can vary the drive split from 100 per cent to the front wheels to 50:50 per cent front and rear depending on prevailing traction levels.

The German car maker quotes an official 0-100km/h time of 4.8sec and an electronically-limited top speed of 250km/h.

By comparison, the Audi S3 sedan runs a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder gasoline engine with 228kW and 380Nm. It is claimed to accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in 5.3sec and reach the same 250km/h.

Underpinning the A35 4Matic sedan is a retuned version of the A250 sedan’s MacPherson strut (front) and multi-link (rear) suspension, which can be optioned with adaptive dampers and comes allied to standard 18-inch wheels.

Mirroring the visual changes already incorporated on the A35 4Matic hatchback, the A35 4Matic sedan receives a heavily restyled front bumper featuring a front splitter element, larger air ducts and a revised grille. At the rear, it adopts a similarly sporting treatment with a new rear bumper with a multi-channel diffuser and twin chromed tailpipes as well as a small lip spoiler atop its short trunk lid.

Inside the A35 4Matic sedan comes equipped with Mercedes-Benz’s MBUX operating system, which works in combination with standard digital instruments and an infotainment display within a common panel within the top of the dashboard. The instruments can be customised with different modes, including a so-called Supersport mode which introduces AMG specific data.

Further upgrades over the A250 sedan include front sport seats and AMG specific trim applications. Trunk space is put at 420-litres, some 5-litres less than that claimed by Audi for the S3 sedan.