Who says wagons can’t have style? The all-new 2013 Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake (wagon) is evidence to the contrary. You don’t have to like the way it looks, but you can’t deny that it has presence.
Mercedes calls the new wagon a five-door coupe, one that “sets an example when it comes to creativity of design.” Aside from the rear hatch, it maintains the same design direction as its four-door counterpart. However, with a length of 4,956 mm (195.2 inches), width of 1,881 mm (74.1 inches) and height of 1,413 mm (55.6 inches), it’s 16 mm longer and rides 3 mm lower. The cargo area, which measures 590 liters with rear seats up and 1,550 liters with the seats folded, is lined with a cherry wood floor, although carpet is also available. Aluminum loading rails are optional.
Powering the 2013 CLS Shooting Brake are two gasoline engines. The CLS 350 gets a 3.5-liter V6 making 302-horsepower (306 PS), while the CLS 500 comes ready with a 4.7-liter V8 turbo producing 402-hp (408 PS). Diesel-loving Europe will get two diesel powertrains, one an entry-level 201-hp (204 PS), 2.1-liter inline-four found in the CLS 250 CDI; the other, a 3.0-liter V6 featured in the CLS 350 CDI delivering 261-hp (265 PS).
All four engines, including the gasoline units, are paired with a 7-speed automatic transmission, limiting top speed to 155 mph (250 km/h). The CLS 350 CDI and the CLS 500 will be available with Mercedes’ 4MATIC all-wheel drive system.
A performance AMG variant of the Shooting Brake will bow in 2013 and will likely be powered by a 5.5-liter bi-turbocharged V8 making 530-hp (537 PS).
