Mercedes released the first official images and pictures of the production version of the GLA45 AMG ahead of the car’s official debut at the Detroit Motor Show. The overwhelmingly positive response to the concept version, revealed in Los Angeles last year, convinced Daimler’s top brass to green light the production of this fast little crossover.

The Mercedes GLA45 AMG is, in essence, a crossover version of the A45 AMG hot hatch. They share the same platform and powertrain. They are also lookalikes – well, save the GLA’s ride height. So the GLA45 is powered by a 2.0 liter turbocharged four-cylinder AMG engine developing 265 kW (360 hp) of power and 450 Newton metres of torque. It takes the car from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds, and on to a top speed of 250 km/h (limited).

The beauty of using a small but powerful engine is that you get the performance without sacrificing the economy. The GLA45 AMG has an average fuel consumption of 7.5 litres per 100 kilometres with CO2 emissions of 175 g/km, which makes it EU6 compliant.

The drivetrain in the Mercedes GLA45 AMG consists of a standard-fit performance-oriented AMG 4MATIC all-wheel-drive and the AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7-speed sports transmission, which in true AMG fashion offers different driving modes including “M” for manual, “S” for sport, and “C” for Controlled Efficiency, in which the ECO start/stop system becomes active. You also get three-stage stability program control with “ESP ON”, “SPORT Handling Mode” and “ESP OFF modes. Although, beng a Mercedes, the ESP cannot be fully turned off.

Mercedes GLA45 AMG comes as standard with 19-inch wheels, but you can opt for 20-inchers 10-spoke AMG light-alloy wheels with tyres of size 235/40 R 20. Sport exhaust, sport suspension, and AMG brakes are standard issue on this car.

As for the aesthetics, the car comes with an aero kit including larger front splitter, additional flics on the front apron, and rear spoiler. They can be ordered in clear carbon fiber, and further enhanced by a Night Package, consisting of privacy windows, black anodised waistline trim strip, silver chrome radiator grille louvres; high-gloss black front splitter, exterior mirrors, side sill panel insert and rear apron trim, two tailpipes with black rectangular trim. The interior is highly customizable with different materials, colors and options.

2015 Mercedes GLA45 AMG will go on sale in July 2014.