If you're one of the people who looked at the Mercedes-AMG GLC43 and thought, "That should be more powerful," you're in luck. Our spy photographers have caught the AMG GLC63 during winter testing in Northern Sweden. The coupe-inspired crossover has some heavy camo on its front and rear ends, but what was left uncovered gives a good idea as to what we can expect from this car performance-wise. Those massive drilled brake rotors and burly quad exhaust suggest a big V8 under the hood, as in the 4.0-liter bi-turbo V8 found in the AMG C63.

Up front our spy photogs say the camo leads them to believe that the AMG GLC63 will have a grille design similar to the AMG GT R's. We agree partly but don't believe Mercedes will import the grille from its range-topping two-door in its entirety. The design here appears to differ a bit from the one on the GT R with the latter having just vertical bars. Grille design aside, this is going to be one mean crossover from any angle. The automaker's 4Matic all-wheel-drive system will be standard, as will a minimum of 469 horsepower, the power output from the AMG C63 Sedan (the car on which this crossover is based). What we're really gunning for is an S version, though.

If Mercedes does indeed go down that road then it's virtually a lock that it would copy the tune from the AMG C63 S Sedan, which spits out 503 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. That is enough to carry the sedan from 0-60 mph in just 3.9 seconds. The AMG GLC63 will be heavier than the car that birthed it but will have the advantage of AWD to help launch it off the line. We often complain about crossovers ruining the auto industry and killing off more fun to drive, but less profitable, models. That complaint usually holds water, but not when you're talking about a CUV with an AMG V8 and AWD. We'll keep our complaints to ourselves this time. Expect to see the AMG GLC63 poke its head out some time in the second half of 2017.