Mercedes-Benz’s entry-level models include the CLA 250 and GLA 250. Both models feature a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 208 horsepower. Decent power, right? If for some reason that isn’t enough, the next models on the table are the AMG 45 variants of each model, both of which come with AMG-specific turbo four engines that come with 375 horsepower. Look at the power figures of the two models, and you’ll see a significant 170-horsepower gap between them. Well, Mercedes is planning to address that massive gap when the next-generation A-Class comes into the picture. The solution? The 300-horsepower AMG A35.

Those of you who have had to face the ordeal of picking between a 250 Mercedes or an AMG 45 know what the issue is here. Picking between these two models is tricky because there’s a significant gap between the two. You could opt for a model like the CLA 250 and settle for a car with 208 horsepower, or you pay the piper and get an AMG 45 that carries 375 horsepower under its hood. But, what if there’s another choice, one that could give you more than 208 ponies and less than 375 ponies?

The answer, according to AMG boss Tobias Moers, is an AMG 35. Speaking with Car and Driver, Moers admitted the need to have a new version that will slot between the 250 and the AMG 450, effectively giving customers a middle-ground choice for those who find the 250 lacking in power and the AMG 450 having more of it than they’d like.

The new AMG 35 will first arrive in the guise of the next-generation A-Class. It makes sense to pick this model because the new A-Class sedan has yet to hit the market, and as one of Merc’s entry-level models, it’s the perfect choice to introduce a new version that can bridge the gap between the 250 and AMG 45. Details about the upcoming AMG 35 have yet to be revealed, but it is understood that it would have around 300 horsepower at its disposal, right smack in the middle of the power returns provided by the 250 and AMG 45, respectively.

Moers also added that while the new A-Class will get first dibs on the AMG 35, the new will also appear in the CLA-Class and GLA-Class models, creating a structured hierarchy of models that are based on the amount of power their engines can produce. This is a smart move by Mercedes because customers have had a hard time picking between the two existing versions. Having a model like the AMG 35 sit between them should remove those concerns.

It’s not just about the engine and its power output. The large disparity in price between the two models will also become less of an issue if there’s a middle model that can act as a bridge between the 250 and AMG 45. That’s a role that the AMG 35 is capable of filling easily, particularly when it comes to customers who want more power out of the 250 at a less price than the AMG 45. If deciding between the two become next-to-impossible, the smart choice becomes the AMG 35, a model that should have no problem dealing with the likes of the Audi S3.

References

Read our full review on the 2018 Mercedes-Benz A-Class.

Read our full speculative review on the 2019 Mercedes-AMG A35 Sedan.

Read our full review on the 2017 Audi S3.

Read more Mercedes-Benz news.