Latest in a line of design tangents starting with the CLS, Mercedes will be debuting its Shooting BreakConcept. This is meant to be a closer, more production-ready preview to the next CLS than the FASCINATION. It also rolls on 20's.
First off, the engine is a 3.5 liter V6 previewing the next generation of V-engines from Mercedes that develops 306 horsepower (225 kW) and 273 lb-ft (370 Nm). And that's the least interesting part about the car.
Design-wise, it inherits the SLS's "soft nose" with world-premier dynamic full-LED headlamps, "which for the first time offer all of the regular dynamic light functions using LED technology."
They "feature the Intelligent Light System which has already been tried and tested in Mercedes models with bi-xenon headlamps. Its five light functions - country lights, motorway lights, enhanced fog lights, active curve lights and cornering lights -have been specifically designed for typical driving or weather conditions."
The Shooting Break's oak-lined passenger compartment is cool, as long as you like the Panamera's layout. Its floor is lined with Maybach carpet, which is another step in the right direction.
The compartment is divided by an attractive center console ("with inlaid work: curved Mercedes lettering which harks back to the style of the 1920s"), accenting the 4-passenger seating layout and giving everyone their own private bubble to reside in. Also, it prevents anybody from fooling around back there. Damn kids.
The luggage compartment has funky saddlebags lining its sides for extra storage, adding a unique touch to an already-interesting segment. It even has oak lining the compartment floor; so luxury.
The good news is, if there's enough interest, the Shooting Break could spawn a 5-door variant (call it a CLS Wagon). I say a 3-door would be even cooler.
It's Mercedes' take on the 5-Series GT, a sexy grand tourer that looks the part without needing to break the mold. Frankly, this is what the R-Class should evolve into.
By Phil Alex
17 Comments:
wow interesting - now thats a wagon I would like to own... Mercedes design is definately evolving into something special. . .
Not my cup of tea, honestly. It looks like a mish-mash of different design languages with no clear focus.
I'm not a fan of wagons...but this CLS SB concept study certainly looks good...
the front is ugly to me but the back and the side line are gorgeous :)
The grill and lower air intakes go a bit soft compared to the crisp lines of the rest of the car.
That said, I LOVE this car. The interior is lovely and I'd buy it in a heartbeat....if I could afford it.
I hope the translation of the interior to production CLS retains the cool brown elements.
-Dallas
I don't like the organic design on the front end, the large grille and all the rounded edges make it look somehow weird and like japanese concept cars. Also the interior could use a slightly more sporty touch!
The backend is lovely though, I quite like that!
Shooting-Brake??? Where??? I just see a Mercedes CLS Estate or perhaps the future of the C/E-Class Estate...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shooting-brake
Not even a shooting brake by the defination of the word. 2-doors too many.
It is essentually a E-class wagon in a differnet body style.
*Yawn* Magnum, CTS wagon, etc. It's already been done.
To me Mercedes is becoming a brand of concept-cars. Sorry, but I would like see something real like the production- version of the new CLS and not another study....
Wagener must have spent too much time at Chrysler.
Love the concept, but that beak is too derivative of Dodge trucks and other macho look Chrysler products.
I took me some time to understand this: Who would buy a car with so little room on the rear seats? Dwarfs? Families with small kids?
No, the Chinese! They are small. For them it is just a big, cool looking wagon.
ugh...i hope MB doesnt follow the same road to ugly as BMW designers have been recently.
"No, the Chinese! They are small. For them it is just a big, cool looking wagon"
-Some of the tallest people in the world right now are Chinese.
"Some of the tallest people in the world right now are Chinese"
Yeah! And some of the shortest are American! What was your point?
"Yeah! And some of the shortest are American! What was your point"
- You got my Point.
"Upgraded R Class?"
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