New Mercedes-AMG A35 [teaser]

Released by the automaker and shared by MBPassionBlong, the images reveal an AMG-branded front grille with a couple of chrome inserts, and LED-infused headlights. It really does look as though this is actually the upcoming A35, a hot hatch that Mercedes will position right underneath the A45, but not before celebrating its world premiere in 2018 Paris Auto Show. In terms of power, the car should launch with a 2.0-liter four-banger, with turbocharging and EQ Boost technology. The output should be in the region of 300 PS and 400 Nm of torque, just like the assembly found in the latest E350 Coupe and Cabrio. Performance wise, the 2019 Mercedes-AMG A35 will probably need some 5 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h, and it’s likely to have an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h. The quoted source believes that customer orders for the hot hatch will commence shortly after its premiere in Paris, with the first units to be delivered from December.

At U.S. highway speeds the Panamera is a very stable platform nearly absent of wind noise. It's comfortable and mindlessly numbing, just like a luxury sedan buyer expects. Heading further south, we finally hit an unlimited-speed section of the Autobahn. Set free, we bury the throttle. The PDK transmission, leisurely content in seventh gear, instantly springs to attention. It quickly drops a few gears and the engine growls loudly as it spools around the tachometer. Each redline instigates a quick shift, and the engine snaps back into the power band eagerly climbing upwards once again. The speedometer is moving too, but at a slower pace. We bring the Panamera S up to about 230 km/h (142 mph) and hold it there. Watching us close the gap in their rearview mirrors, Mercedes-Benz and BMW drivers recognized the Porsche and immediately moved out of our way. One fellow, in an older S-Class, tried to hold us off for about a kilometer before he eventually conceded to the rival from Stuttgart. The road opened up, and we pressed faster. At 272 km/h, our maximum velocity thanks to the traffic that afternoon, the Panamera was kissing 170 mph.

Although we were cutting through the air at Boeing 737 take-off speeds, the Porsche was confident and attentive. Even more so, it was relatively quiet (a 911 at 150 mph is a different story). The ease at which the Panamera cruises above 150 mph is impressive, but it's the braking that blurred our vision. One of our many high-speed excursions was cut short by a VW Golf that ventured into our lane to make a pass. Pounding the brakes at nearly 235 km/h (145 mph) would unsettle most cars, but the Panamera shook it off with less drama than hitting week-old road kill. Porsche's PCCB ceramic brakes seemed so completely unfazed that we deliberately tried our "brake test" several more times when the road cleared. There was never any sign of fade or increased stopping distances. We can't image anyone in the States overdriving the Panamera's stoppers. Off the Autobahn, and pressed through the canyons that first day, the rear-wheel drive Panamera did its best to impersonate a 911. It was neutral in the corners, and a real pleasure to drive fast.

In similar fashion to a 911, it enjoys being pushed hard and never breaks a sweat. While the 7 Series, S-Class and Audi A8 dance like football linebackers, the Porsche sedan demonstrated moves akin to an experienced receiver. Sadly, the weather was less-than-cooperative the next day during our first date with the Panamera Turbo. We suffered through more than our fair share of frustratingly wet roads, but they never really seemed to concern the 500-hp all-wheel drive sedan. Cozy in our heated seats, the flagship model delivered gobs of torque at the slightest touch of the throttle. It remained unfazed as we pushed it harder and harder, never really getting past seven-tenths before one of the wheels would break free and slip sideways on the slick wet pavement. Porsche's stability control raises its intervention threshold based on the driver selected the sport settings (stability control may be completely defeated at the touch of a button).