The Mercedes-Benz Concept A has been enjoying lots of hype as the seductively-styled concept will donate most of its design cues to the upcoming 2012 Mercedes-Benz A-class. Now, the next small Mercedes has gotten even more enticing, with AMG reportedly hard at work on a 350-horsepower version of the diminutive Benz. Rumors of a baby AMG have been swirling for months now, but with the new styling comes new hope that the car will actually exist.

That much grunt goes a long way in any application, but in a car the size of the A-class, it's borderline murderous. Word is AMG will attempt to rein in the herd with a four-wheel-drive system gleaned from Mercedes' upcoming small SUV.

Details like what engine AMG will shoehorn into the A-class are nonexistent, though we'd expect it to be a tuned version of the 2.0-liter, turbocharged BlueEFFICIENCY four pot in the standard car. Whatever winds up motivating the baby 'bahn stormer, with that much power and a possible four-wheel drive setup, it promises to be a stone riot. No word yet on whether the AMG A-class will make it to the States, but Mercedes is reportedly thinking about bringing the standard version here, which at least gives us a small shred of hope.