Now that BMW has the 1 Series M Coupe and Audi the RS 3, Mercedes-Benz also wants a slice of the potent small car scene and its protagonist will be an AMG version of its next A-Class.
According to Autocar, the A25 AMG will be based on the next-generation A-Class and will be powered by a 2-litre four-cylinder engine that will put out as much as 240kW, albeit that's still 10kW shy of the aforementioned German rivals.
Reports also suggest that a dual-clutch transmission with six forward gears will be part of the smallest AMG package to date.
Even though the next A-Class will still be front wheel driven, you don't have to worry about the A25 being a torque-steer extravaganza - AMG are developing an all-wheel drive system for the baby bombshell.
Nor should you fear it being too top-heavy like today's A-Class as the new model is set to move onto a conventional platform as Mercedes-Benz ditches the 'sandwich floor' design of the current A.
That should mean a sportier and more low-slung design for the entire A-Class line-up, in the process also making it more desirable to the younger target audience that Merc no doubt want to attract.
As the car is still almost two years away, we can't show you exactly how it will look, but the BlueZero concept car pictured here should hold a number of clues about the design language that'll feature on the next A- and B-Class Mercs.