If you want to know why we’re so crazy about AMG’s new compact range of performance cars, just take a look at this quick video.

It shows the A45 AMG hatch being put through its paces at the legendary Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari race track in Italy, otherwise known as Imola.

Behind the wheel of the car is AMG’s own driving instructor Lance David Arnold, who quickly goes through some of the car’s main performance features. His favorite attributes are the car’s emotional driving pleasure, powerful performance and everyday usability.

Under the hood is a turbocharged and direct-injected 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, which develops 355 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque. Drive is sent to all four wheels via an AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and according to Mercedes, the car needs just 4.5 seconds to reach 60 mph. Top speed is limited to 155 mph.

While we’re sad to report that Mercedes has no plans to launch the A45 AMG in the U.S., the car’s sedan sibling, the CLA45 AMG, launches here in the coming months. We’ll be bringing you a first drive report soon, so stay tuned.

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See more videos on our YouTube sites: The Car Connection, Motor Authority, and Green Car Reports.