Monday 15th August 2011

Merc CLC 'Shooting Brake' Mini-Estate Confirmed

Second sporty estate thingummy will be hot on the heels of CLS wagon

---

Not the CLC estate (this one's the CLS)

Mercedes has confirmed that it will be adding a second 'shooting brake' model to its line-up, even before the first one has been revealed.

The CLC Shooting Brake (note to Mercedes: can we call them estates, please? It saves arguments...) will appear in 2014, (we're told by industry website Automotive News) a short while after Mercedes presents its new CLC, which will be a four-door coupe to take on the likes of the forthcoming four-door Audi A3.

It's all part of Merc's new-model offensive, the aim of which appears to be to 'do an Audi' by launching a flurry of models and bodystyles until they find one that you will buy.

The CLC estate will be the second 'shooting brake' Mercedes; an estate version of the larger, glitzier CLS, based on the 'Shooting Break' (sic) concept from the 2010 Beijing motor show will be with us in 2012.

Although it will look estate-esque, the CLC most likely won't major on practicality - it is expected to compete with the Audi A5 Sportback and soon-to-be-revealed BMW 3-series GT.

Unlike the CLS estate, however, the CLC version will be front- or four-wheel drive.

[Codswallop]

So disappointed. When I saw the title, I was expecting to see a production version of this;




But instead it is yet another estate car with a name that's been mangled by a marketing moron.

[HedgehogFromHell]

Marketting needs shooting.. It's an Estate. I was under the impression a Shooting Brake was a 2 door with expansive glasshouse and estate like rear?

[Mattt]

How many models of cars do we need from one manufacturer?

[Gun]

HedgehogFromHell said:

Marketting needs shooting.. It's an Estate.

It's a disease that's continuing to spread, Citroen try to describe their new DS4 as a 5 door coupe, no it's a hatchback you numpties!

[off_again]

Is it me, or does that car look like its smiling?

[A Scotsman]

off_again said:

Is it me, or does that car look like its smiling?

It's you! :-)

[Codswallop]

A Scotsman said:

off_again said:

Is it me, or does that car look like its smiling?

It's you! :-)

Is it me, or does that random order of punctuation symbols appear to be smiling?

[vz-r_dave]

Its in the Berlin at the moment, great looking car in the flesh. I would call it a shooting break from what I saw.

[SWoll]

Codswallop said:

So disappointed. When I saw the title, I was expecting to see a production version of this;




But instead it is yet another estate car with a name that's been mangled by a marketing moron.

From this

"An estate version of the larger, glitzier CLS, based on the 'Shooting Break' (sic) concept from the 2010 Beijing motor show will be with us in 2012."

That is what we are getting isn't it?

[Mafioso]

Front wheel drive? Is that a typo? Oh and don't start me on the 'shooting brake' thing...

[BMWill]

I guess that's one way (or at least try) to stay ahead of the game.

Step 1: offer a line up of cars, SUVs and cross overs which are all broadly similar to each other to the point where no human being is capable of memorizing MB's entire line up of models.
Step 2: when competitors (read Audi and BMW) do the same, increase number of models in each category which do the same thing and market them in such a way that makes classification of models to the end consumer impossible.

Is that a saloon? Is that a hatch back? No! It's a German car!

shame really...

on another note, a big thumbs up to MB for their current design language. Seem to have a lot more character than BMW or Audi (although the latter only seem to have one design and I can't for the life of me distinguish between their models anymore).

= )

[georgeck]

I suspect 'Shooting Brake/Break' will actually mean that whilst it looks great, it can't really hold much in the boot.

I have rented a Chrysler 300 estate (Dodge Magnum) and was appalled to find that the boot was not big enough for three suitcases!!!

It makes me dispair as I actually want my estate to hold stuff.

George (with a V70)

[loafer123]

Looks like a 3 door "R Class".

[F1GTRUeno]

I genuinely hate MB for cars like these.

Creating hideous, pointless cars for niches that noone asked for.

[Gizmo!]

BMW 3GT?

Audi A3 4-door coupé?

OFFS.

What next, a Rolls Royce two-door offroader?

[kambites]

F1GTRUeno said:

I genuinely hate MB for cars like these.

Creating hideous, pointless cars for niches that noone asked for.

Why single out Mercedes for that. BMW and Audi are guilty of exactly the same thing.

[hondafanatic]

Go on then, I'll pop my head above the parapet for a brief second and say;

1) I like it

2) Why does everyone seem to have a beef about manufactures making unusual cars. I'm glad the likes of Merc, BMw etc have the time, money and resources to have a go at something different. I even like Citroen's attempt at a crossover things, i like VW Passat CC etc.

[British Beef]

In fact most German car companies seem to have an ever diversifying range of cars / SUVs; some pointless, some ugly and pretty much all expensive and less practical than a proper estate (yep Panamera & X6 thats you!!!).

Creating niche car for a niche market that they hope exists???

[cheesyblob]

hondafanatic said:

Go on then, I'll pop my head above the parapet for a brief second and say;

1) I like it

2) Why does everyone seem to have a beef about manufactures making unusual cars. I'm glad the likes of Merc, BMw etc have the time, money and resources to have a go at something different. I even like Citroen's attempt at a crossover things, i like VW Passat CC etc.

Agreed. The only things I don't like is that there calling a 5-Door car a Shooting Brake and that it will be FWD (I know most the only other RWD Mid-Size Hatchback is the 1-Series and there is a reason but people should have a choice and a FWD 5-Door Shooting Brake would be IMO be wrong).

[fluffnik]

F1GTRUeno said:

Creating hideous, pointless cars for niches that noone asked for.

...but buy in profitable quantities.