Mercedes CLS Shooting Brake revealed

The Mercedes CLS Shooting Break

Mercedes has released details of the Mercedes CLS Shooting Break Concept which will appear at the Beijing Motor Show this month.

Having effectively created a niche all on its own with the launch of the Mercedes CLS – a four door coupe – back in 2004, Mercedes are certainly taking the next generation of the CLS seriously. Mind you, they need to. The niche they effectively started has now grown to encompass swoopy-coupe saloons at both ends of the cost spectrum and many – such as the ever-growing range from Audi – as direct competitors.

February saw the 2011 Mercedes CLS turn up in the guise of the Mercedes F800 Concept at Geneva and now we’re treated to the Mercedes CLS Shooting Break Concept (and Mercedes are at pains to point out that it is Shooting Break and not Shooting Brake – you learn something every day), which is a swoopy-estate. Dare we say a Mercedes version of the BMW 5 Series GT?

According to Mercedes both this and the F800 Concept we saw at Geneva are just concepts. But it’s clear they are almost production versions of the 2011 CLS and are pointing the way forward on Mercedes design with their big new nose, first seen on the SLS Gullwing.

The new CLS is bigger all round than the car it will replace. In particular the door openings are bigger, which will help. For a big car the CLS is not the easiest to get in and out of – particularly in the back.

The CLS Shooting break is design-lead, not function-lead. As such it’s not going to offer unrivalled amounts of stowage in its boot, whose dimensions are compromised by the swooping roofline. But it’s still a decent-looking load area unless you’re an Antiques dealer.

The interior of the CLS seems to be an evolution of the current CLS and offer swathes of leather and oak with the same slab-facia and centre console which extends the length of the interior, maintaining the individuality of the CLS interior in the Mercedes range.

Also on offer will be a new range of engines – expected to be used first in the new Mercedes CL (S Class Coupe) when it launches later this year – featuring low-pressure turbos and direct injection which are said toi reduce emissions and fuel consumption by 25%.

The CLS Shooting Break is fitted with a 3.5 litre V6 delivering 306bhp and a new version of Mercedes’ 7G-Tronic ‘box which will come with stop/start. Other engines include a 4.5 litre V8 petrol, a pair of diesels – a 2.1 litre 4-pot and a 3.0 litre V6 – and the new 5.5 litre turbo V8 which will replace the 6.2 litre lump at the top of the range.

Plenty of picture below of the CLS Shooting Break, and if you want all the Mercedes-speak on the concept have a look at the press release.