Since many North American consumers shy away from hatchbacks but love hatchbacks that ride on tall suspensions and have plastic bits around their bodies, Mercedes has created the GLA crossover, which has now been lowered down a notch and decorated with aerodynamic parts to welcome the A45 AMG’s 355HP (360PS) 2.0-liter turbo. We know, it all sounds confusing, but what can you do…

Announced today at the Los Angeles Auto Show, the GLA 45 AMG will be the second best thing to the A45 AMG five-door hatch, and since it does carry the crossover moniker, it will eventually be offered Stateside.

The only conceptual parts on the car are the liveries and the enhanced aerodynamic package with splitters and a bigger wing, though, even those will likely be offered either as an option, or as part of a special edition package on the production GLA 45 AMG.

Under all that crossove…ruggedness (we just kid), you’ll find the same drivetrain as the A45 AMG, with a crazy 2.0-liter turbocharged four delivering 355hp (360PS) and 450Nm (332 lb-ft), connected to an AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7-speed sports dual clutch transmission and the AMG Performance 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system.

The car, which rolls on 255/35 R 21 tires on all four corners, is able to complete the zero to 100 km/h (62mph) sprint in under five seconds, always according to Benz.

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