Mercedes GLA45 AMG hauls in the world’s most powerful four cylinders

With the 2015 GLA-Class small crossover SUV, Mercedes sought to bring its style and cache to a wider audience, much like the German automaker did with its CLA-Class. This meant front-wheel drive as standard with more plastics, less speed and (arguably) better value. It became a Mercedes-Benz with an asterisk, at least in the eyes of some.

But then Mercedes sent its soft-road machine to AMG, where it took on a bigger engine, racier bodywork and a tauter suspension. It's no longer weakened; it's a monster. And yet — if it's anything like the CLA45 AMG — it should sticker at a reasonable price.

Enter the 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA45 AMG, featuring the most powerful mass-production four-cylinder engine in the world.