Just a couple of months after debuting at the 2019 Paris Motor Show, the speed freaks at Brabus went straight to work on the Mercedes-AMG A35. Now, the A35 is not a slow car to begin with. It came with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-banger producing 302-horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, 4MATIC all-wheel-drive, and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic.
But as a Brabus, having 300 plus horsepower is not enough. The German tuning firm is set to unveil the Mercedes-AMG A35 by Brabus at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. And while this car is not powerful enough to eclipse the A45 S with the 415-horsepower M139 motor, Brabus’ latest creation is set to create quite a stir in the hot hatch category.
What’s more, Brabus is offering the Mercedes-AMG A35 with a pair of performance upgrades.
Brabus PowerXtra B 35 Tuning Kit
Honestly, I couldn’t have come up with a better name for the stage 1 Brabus tuning kit. It comprises of a plug-and-play Brabus PowerXtra module that remaps the injection, ignition timing, and turbo boost pressure. The result is 345-horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque, which is more than what the stock A35 can muster.
Brabus PowerXtra + B35 S Tuning Kit
I know this next performance upgrade is quite a mouthful but bear with me. All you really need to know is the ‘+’ designation means more power courtesy of Brabus-specific tuning parts including the aforementioned PowerXtra module, a new high-performance muffler kit, and Brabus aluminum paddle shifters on the steering wheel.
With this package, the Brabus A35 is churning out 365-horsepower and 359 pound-feet of torque with the same motor. This allows an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph (210 kph) and zero to sixty in 4.4-seconds.
But the Brabus A35 is still slower than the Mercedes-AMG A45 S
We’re talking about the new A45 S with the M139 motor, which happens to be the most powerful production four-cylinder engine the world has ever seen. Producing 375-horsepower in standard form and 415-horsepower in S trim, the M139 produces peak torque at 5,200 rpm with a stronger push between 2,000 to 3,000 rpm.
But despite the tuning upgrades and funky aerodynamic exterior bits, the Brabus A35 is still slower than the M139. Honestly, this is not a big deal considering you still have more than 300 horses in what is supposedly a compact family hatchback.
But here’s the thrilling part: the Brabus A35 is only half a second slower to 60 mph than the A45 S, despite the latter having 50 more horsepower than the highest-tuned Brabus A35.
And it looks the part, too
If you fancy the tuner-inspired look, you’ll love the Mercedes-AMG A35 by Brabus. It comes with a two-piece Brabus front spoiler with towering flaps at the outboard ends. This reduces front-axle lift at higher speeds. You’ll also find a pair of Brabus elements on the side of the air intakes to optimally route incoming air to the intakes in the front bumper.
The Mercedes-AMG A35 by Brabus is also equipped with a dominant rear wing affixed on the roof. It replaces the stock rear spoiler and offers better aerodynamic balance. Brabus also threw in a new set of 19-inch genuine Monoblock T wheels in a glossy black finish. The wheels have sporty carbon elements in the spokes to complete the tuner-inspired look.
Inside, you’ll find illuminated stainless-steel scuff plates, aluminum pedals, and velour floor mats – all with the BRABUS logo, of course. Best of all, the interior can be customized in any color by the Brabus upholstery shop using genuine cowhide and fine Alcantara.
However, the Mercedes-AMG A35 by Brabus is NOT coming to the USA
Similar to the Mercedes-AMG A35, you’ll have to pray long and hard for the Brabus A35 to make it stateside. But if it’s any consolation, the Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 is coming to the USA in late 2020 brandishing a 382-horsepower version of the M139 engine. Then again, Mercedes-AMG is still not offering the full-blown S version with 415-horsepower.
If you’re interested to see the Mercedes-AMG A35 by Brabus in the flesh, it will be on display at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. Pricing will be announced at a later date.
