The Paris Motor Show doesn鈥檛 officially kick off until tomorrow, but that hasn鈥檛 stopped Mercedes from unveiling an assortment of new models at a special event in the city. Starting things off is the Mercedes-AMG A35 4MATIC which is designed to slot between the standard A-Class and the upcoming A45. Given its positioning, the model has a hot - but not too hot - turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 301 hp and 400 Nm of torque. The engine is paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and an all-wheel drive system. This setup enables the hatchback to rocket from 0-100 km/h in 4.7 seconds before hitting a limited top speed of 250 km/h. As part of the AMG makeover, the car has been equipped with a sportier front fascia which features a revised grille, a new splitter and small flics. The rear end has also been updated thanks to a new bumper, a distinctive diffuser and an AMG dual exhaust system. Other highlights include a sports steering system, an AMG Ride Control suspension and 18-inch lightweight alloy wheels which are backed up by a high-performance braking system.
While the A35 is certainly an interesting addition to the Mercedes lineup, crossovers were front and center at today鈥檚 event. The more interesting of the two was the electric EQC which will compete with the Audi E-Tron. Set to become Mercedes鈥?first mainstream electric vehicle, the EQC has two electric motor which are powered by an 80 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. This setup gives the crossover all-wheel drive and a combined output of 402 hp and 765 Nm of torque. In terms of performance, the EQC can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 5.1 seconds and hit a limited top speed of 180 km/h. The company also says the model will be able to travel more than 450 km on a single charge in the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC). The other crossover at today鈥檚 event was the 2019 GLE. Set to battle the redesigned BMW X5, the GLE sports an evolutionary design which follows the company鈥檚 latest styling philosophy.
Larger and more luxurious than its predecessor, the GLE will be launched with a 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine that produces 362 hp and 500 Nm of torque. The powertrain also has an EQ Boost function which can temporarily deliver an additional 21 hp and 250 Nm of torque. The engine is connected to a nine-speed automatic transmission which sends power to a 4MATIC all-wheel drive system. Besides the new powertrain, the GLE has an upscale interior with two 12.3-inch displays. The model also has a more spacious second row which can be equipped with segment exclusive six-way power seats. Last but not least, Smart showcased the Forease concept. Designed to pay tribute to the 2001 Crossblade and 2011 Forspeed concepts, the Forease is based on the EQ Fortwo Cabrio and features unique styling inside and out. Mercedes hasn鈥檛 released detailed specifications, but the electric concept likely has a 17.6 lithium-ion battery pack and an electric motor that develops 80 hp and 160 Nm of torque. This should enable the car to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in approximately 11.8 seconds.
Read on to find out which executive estate will drive off with the prize in its large and luxurious load bay. This fifth-generation Audi A6 is now available in Avant guise and follows the saloon. That car made an impression, so can this even more practical model build on its sibling鈥檚 performance? We鈥檙e testing the A6 Avant 40 TDI S line model to find out. Prices start from 拢44,100 for this spec. As with Audi鈥檚 typically evolutionary approach to its cars鈥?styling, the engineering underneath is an advancement of what went before - although there are some key changes. Chief among these is the new 40 TDI engine, a 201bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel that drives the front wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. It gets 12V mild-hybrid tech to help improve efficiency; Mercedes doesn鈥檛 offer mild-hybrid tech on its diesel E-Class Estate, although you can buy a plug-in hybrid. Audi will follow suit with the newer A6 in time.
The Avant sits on the brand鈥檚 MLB evo platform, which uses a multi-link suspension set-up at the front and rear. There are three suspension packages to choose from. You get steel springs and fixed-rate dampers as standard, with a firmer, sportier tune and a 10mm lower ride height in S line trim. Our test car was fitted with Audi鈥檚 拢1,150 adaptive dampers, while the 拢2,050 air suspension set-up sits above this. This top package isn鈥檛 a necessity, because the regular adaptive dampers work well. The A6鈥檚 interior is a big step on. The twin-screen tech from the A8 flagship has made its way down the range, so there鈥檚 an 8.6-inch HD touchscreen for the climate settings, while an 8.8-inch HD touchscreen for the rest of the multimedia functions sits above this. Our car featured the 拢1,495 Technology Pack, which upgraded this to a 10.1-inch display, adding a 12.3-inch hi-res digital dash panel in place of the standard clocks. It鈥檚 a worthwhile upgrade. Execution and build quality are of the standard we鈥檝e come to expect from Audi. The materials feel more expensive and solid than in the Mercedes, and there鈥檚 a good level of kit.
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