A little while ago, we heard that Mercedes was finally ready to bring its baby A-Class to the US. Some changes are expected, like a switch from a hatchback to a sedan. Now, Autocar has more details about the hardcore AMG versions of the upcoming A-Class. You read that right, we said version(s). The current A45 AMG will reportedly be replaced by a new model with even more power. The current 376 hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged M133 engine will be revised to produce a rumored 400 hp.

This new engine will produce more than 200 hp per liter, which is more than the current car's 189 hp per liter. Mercedes will call this engine the M260, and it should outproduce the current Audi RS3 and BMW M2. The added performance will come courtesy of a new hybrid system with a 48V system. The car will have a normal gas-driven turbo as well as an electric-driven turbo and electric motor. This is similar to what Audi has done with the SQ7, and adds performance by having a turbo that is always spooled up. This new A45 is also rumored to crack the four-second mark for a 0-60 mph sprint.

Other changes include improvements to the all-wheel-drive system and transmission. Other big news comes in the form of a lower AMG A-Class model that could sit below the A45. This power model is rumored to be called the "A32 4Matic" or "A36 4Matic" and should revive a detuned version of the M260 engine with around 300 hp. AMG boss Tobias Moers said that "We've identified a market for a milder AMG model positioned below the A45 4Matic. The strategy is going to be similar to that seen further up the line-up, where our various '43' models support the '63' models."

This baby AMG A-Class model would be targeted at models like the Volkswagen Golf R and Ford Focus RS. We really can't wait to see a more affordable AMG model from Mercedes, but we wish that is was a hatchback.