What we have here is a Mercedes-Benz B-Class, a car normally powered by efficient four-cylinder gasoline or turbodiesel mills, given a powerplant transplant by apprentices at the automaker’s plant in Rastatt, Germany. Their weapon of choice? A throaty V-8 engine displacing 5.5-liters and delivering no less than 388 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque.

The results are as you would expect, completely insane, but somehow it seems that a V-8 in something as small as a B-Class hatchback was always meant to be.

The idea behind the car, nicknamed the B55 although it has no actual association with AMG, came from Rastatt plant manager, Peter Wesp. He gave some of his staff the task of creating a special vehicle on the basis of the B-Class--leaving it to their creativity to decide what and how.

To see how they did it, check out our previous story by clicking here. Otherwise, sit back and enjoy the video.

[Mercedes-Benz]