It was just a matter of time till the boffins at Bottrop-based Mercedes-Benz, Smart and Maybach tuner Brabus got their hands-on Merc’s new entry-level all-wheel drive hot hatch, the AMG A35 4Matic. The resultant package will make its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month.

Not that the standard A35 4Matic isn’t anything to write home about. The all-wheel drive hatchback can step to 100 km/h from standstill in just 4,7 seconds thanks to the 225 kW and 400 Nm of torque produced by its inline four-cylinder turbopetrol motor. But the boys at Brabus have decided to up the ante ever so slightly.

You have a choice of two packages, both of which Brabus claims doesn’t impair daily usability and reliability. The first one is the PowerXtra B35 tuning kit – essentially a plug-and-play enhancement to the ECU that coaxes an extra 32 kW and 60 Nm through injection and ignition tweaks and turning up the boost a bit.

The PowerXtra+ is the full fat variant and uses a custom exhaust muffler to enhance the plug-and-play’s settings for a total of 268 kW and 487 Nm. The complete package lowers the zero to 100 sprint to just 4,4 seconds.

But Brabus being Brabus the upgrades don’t only include powertrain mods. The exterior and interior of the A35 have also been treated to enhancements that match the bump up in power and aggression. The A35 gets a two-piece front spoiler that clips onto the factory bumper on the left and right side. The Brabus rear wing replaces the OEM unit. The alloy wheels have carbon inserts and are now 19-inch in diameter, wrapped in 235/35 Pirelli rubber.

The cabin’s been wrapped in Brabus’ mastic leather and Alcantara, with special aluminium pedals, shift paddles and backlit scuff plates to contrast the colour you choose.