TRENDY young professionals will be the target audience for Mercedes-Benz when its racy new GLA 45 AMG model hits the streets this summer.

The compact SUV, seen as a rival to fellow German brand Audi's RS Q3, has under its bonnet the world's most powerful series production four-cylinder engine.

The 2.0-litre turbocharged powerplant punches out a hefty 360bhp, enabling the Benz to blast from 0-62 in 4.8 seconds and on to an electronically limited top speed of 155mph.

And a power density of 181bhp puts the 1,991cc turbo engine on a par with the world's most powerful super sports cars.

AMG 4MATIC all-wheel-drive plus Speedshift seven-speed sports transmission are also included in a car that Mercedes says will return an average 37.6mpg with CO2 emissions of 175g/km.

The newcomer's arrival means Mercedes now offers the widest range of SUVs among all high-performance premium brands courtesy of AMG versions of the GLA 45, ML 63, GL 63, G 63 and G 65.

As for styling, the car boasts an AMG front apron with twin blade radiator grille painted matt titanium grey and there's AMG lettering at the side between the louvres.

Black air deflector elements above the cooling air intakes at the sides are indicative of motor sport, and bi-xenon headlamps come as standard.

Three types of light alloy wheel will be up for grabs and there are rectangular twin tailpipes.

Sports seats in Artico man-made leather/Dinamica microfibre with red contrasting top stitching and red designo safety belts are features of the cabin along with a three-spoke leather multifunction sports steering wheel with shift paddles.

Mercedes-AMG chairman Tobias Moers said: "The response to the Concept GLA 45 AMG during the world première at the Los Angeles International Auto Show has reaffirmed our decision to launch this new AMG model.

"Currently there is no segment growing faster than that of compact SUVs. For Mercedes-AMG it is therefore a logical step to make a dynamic statement in this segment with the GLA 45 AMG."