Imagine crossing an Arabian stallion with a hippo. The result would certainly be interesting – but most likely not very pretty.
That’s the view of Daimler’s Mercedes-Benz boss Dieter Zetsche although he reckons that combining two extremes in the automotive universe – a sporty coupe and a full-size estate (wagon) – can produce very attractive offspring.
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The result is the Mercedes CLS Shooting Brake which was given its world premier in the UK on the eve of the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
The car was first seen as Concept Fascination in in 2008. Zetsche said: “Judging from the media response, most people agreed its design lived up to its name. Two years later we took this concept to the next level with the Concept Shooting Brake and again the feedback was very encouraging.”
Some sceptics, however, asked whether the world really needs a coupe estate. He added: “Maybe those were the same people who wondered two years ago if the world really needed iPads. Or those non-believers 125 years ago who asked does the world really need a horseless carriage?”
Zetsche believes the new Shooting Brake “captures the very essence of premium cars, because it’s not about making any false compromises”.
The new model seats five and is a full-fledged touring car with ample cargo volume of up to 1,550 litres. Zetsche added: “Along with the styling you also get driving dynamics with fuel consumption as low as 53.3mpg in the 250 diesel. Plus, the CLS underlines that, at Mercedes, lightweight construction goes beyond a handful of showcars. It’s all-aluminium doors alone save nearly 50lb in weight. There are many more aluminium parts because less weight means more driving fun.”
The CLS remains the market leader in its segment and year-to-date, retail sales have climbed over 50% year on year. The Shooting Brake follows hot on the heels of the redesigned A-Class as Mercedes-Benz sets sights on becoming the leading player in the premium segment by 2020.
Zetsche said: “We’re already in the middle of a product offensive that trumps anything we have done before. During our first major product offensive during the mid-1990s we launched four models that were new to Mercedes. This time around, we’ll introduce 10 new cars that have no predecessor in our current line-up. Plus, 15 years ago it was only about gas (petrol) and diesel engines. Now we’re making headway on three lanes with combustions, hybridisation and full electrification.
“We are also expanding our global production footprint with two new locations and there’s more to come. So clearly, this is not just about shaping a new portfolio – it’s about building a new company.”
