Spied: Mercedes launching CLS-based shooting brake to compete against Fisker Surf

[Wimbledon]

http://www.motorauthority.com/news/10672...-spy-shots

Motor Authority Wrote:The Mercedes-Benz CLS ignited the four-door coupe market when it was first introduced back in 2004, and since then we’ve seen several other luxury rivals attempt to emulate the design with cars like the Porsche Panamera, Aston Martin Rapide and recently launched Audi A7.

With the second-generation CLS, which went on sale earlier this year, Mercedes is set to popularize a niche segment once again, this time reinvigorating the ‘Shooting Brake’ bodystyle as previewed by the stunning concept version from 2010.

Pictured here is a prototype for a production CLS Shooting Brake from Mercedes-Benz, and given its almost showroom look we could be seeing it formally unveiled in the very near future, perhaps as early as the 2012 Geneva Motor Show next March.

With four doors and a rear cargo area, the CLS Shooting Brake is more of an estate/wagon than a true shooting brake, which is typically a two-door, extended-rear, coupe-based car.

Nevertheless, we’re glad to see that Mercedes' design team has stayed true to the gorgeous lines of the previous concept, guaranteeing that this new model will be one of the hottest cars on sale next year. Note, one feature that doesn’t appear to have made production is the concept’s awesome panoramic glass sunroof.

Expect the base ‘CLS350’ model to feature a 3.5-liter V-6 rated at 306 horsepower and 272 pound-feet of torque, while the ‘CLS550’ should sport the same twin-turbocharged 4.6-liter V-8 found in the current CLS550 coupe and be rated at 402 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque.

Of course, expect a high-performance CLS63 AMG Shooting Brake model complete with the Affalterbach tuner’s twin-turbocharged 5.5-liter V-8 channeling 518 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque through the rear wheels.

Look out for the new Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake in showrooms next summer, most likely as a 2013 model.

Note, this isn’t the only shooting brake Mercedes-Benz is thought to be working on. A version based on the smaller ‘BLS’ four-door coupe is reported to also be in the works.

Compared to the Fisker Surf:

[Dutch]

I'm not a big fan of the Surf (the design of the Karma is much more balanced) but I definitely prefer the Surf over the CLS Shooting Brake. That looks like it was designed to carry people from the morgue to the cemetery.

[kabalah70]

Looks more like a station wagon to me. But I guess no one wants to call it that because it would not sell. Just like Volvo calling them estate cars. The Ferrari FF is a shooting brake. I can't really see this Mercedes counting as one. Oh well, Wiki'ed it and I guess they are synonymous. Whatever, lets have eighteen different words for the same thing so nobody can understand what we are talking about. We should be making life simplier not more complex.

[Fabulist]

I am not fan of shooting brake/estate/station wagon/crossover cars, but if I were forced to pick one of these, I would say that the straight roof line of the Fisker looks more natural to me for this type of car than the curved roof of the Merc. I am sure there are people somewhere who like cars in this format and I hope they are happy.

-- Fab.