Merc's Jacked Up GLA45 Is The Mother Of All Compact Crossovers

The Porsche Macan isn't the only hot compact SUV to be revealed this week. Mercedes' GLA has been tickled by AMG, resulting in this GLA45. It gets a performance boost, as well as a number of motorsport-inspired trinkets that aim to distract from the fact you're in a dinky crossover.

Performance comes from AMG's 2.0-litre turbocharged engine - the most powerful four-cylinder engine in the world, no less - which delivers 360hp and 332lb/ft of torque to all four wheels. Combine that with AMG's Speedshift seven-speed sports transmission, and you get a car capable of hitting 60mph in less than five seconds while ferrying the family around town.

Aesthetically, the crossover gets a makeover. The 21-inch AMG-forged wheels wrap around a high-performance braking system. The front-end gets a splitter, air deflectors and large cooling air intakes, while the chromed twin-blade radiator grille is another AMG touch. Out back, you'll spot a sizeable spoiler and down low a rear diffuser houses the AMG sports exhaust system.

The show car is plastered with tacky stickers, and the high gloss black with red trim caked on to all the 'aero' parts make the GLA45 look, dare we say it, tacky. But with huge power in a smallish package and a subtle paint job, this compact crossover could be the ultimate go-anywhere (well, most places) tool.