Rumormill: Mercedes-Benz CLS shooting brake in the works?

Mercedes Benz ConceptFASCINATION - click for high-res gallery

German automakers have apparently all developed kyphosis, as witnessed by the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo, the impending Audi A7 Sportback, and the Porsche Panamera. It seems the time is right for humpty-backed automobiles from Deutschland. Mercedes used the ConceptFASCINATION to spearhead the launch of its redesigned E-Class, and while it got everyone all excited during auto show season in 2008, few thought it would amount to anything productiony. That's all changed now. Sure, there are wagons; it's hard to name a more proper Estate Car than the E-Class wagon; but that's not the brass ring everyone seems to be stretching for here.

Expected at the next Paris Motor Show CLS will debut with the expected rakish form – as well as a shooting brake version. While we're all ogling pictures of the fetching three-door concept shown above, the production version is expected to carry four doors and a liftgate. While the show vehicle is fetching with its paucity of points of entry, four doors are apparently important for interesting the Asian market. Don't think of this rumored model as a replacement for anything else utilitarian in the Mercedes lineup; the CLS Brake is unlikely to usurp the R-Class and its unsalability. Rather, it will offer another stylish option in a package that is more car than bus. The world could do with more brakes - shoot on, we say.