STUD Or DUD? 2013 Mercedes -Benz CLS Shooting Brake Caught In The Buff

Our spies have just snared the new Mercedes-Benz CLS shooting brake - the estate version of Merc's second-generation CLS coupaloon.

It was on test in Germany ahead of a planned debut in 2012. It's remarkably undisguised, suggesting that a debut is imminent.

Based on the Shooting Break [sic] concept car of 2010, this is a new niche for Merc. Mirroring the CLS's relationship to E-class, the CLS Shooting Brake will be a cooler, more stylised take on the traditional family wagon.
 

Designer1 - 10/12/2011 3:07:26 PM

+5 Boost

Man this is ugly!! The back looks like the new Pruis! So, is this going to be a Hybrid? lol

Yonder7 - 10/12/2011 3:22:52 PM

+6 Boost

Ugly as sin ....

1BadMan - 10/12/2011 4:10:22 PM

+10 Boost

Not a Shooting Brake. That is a Station Wagon.

FromThePassengerSeat - 10/13/2011 7:26:54 PM

+1 Boost

Mercedes would call it a shooting brake because Americans recoil in disgust at the mention of the term "station wagon". Just like how the regular CLS, according to Mercedes, is a "four-door coupe" and not a sedan, and how the new Ferrari FF has been dubbed a shooting brake rather than a hatchback. But I agree with you: the term "shooting brake" is for those who wrongly think that wagons are uncool.

HoustonMidtown - 10/12/2011 4:19:54 PM

+6 Boost

back end is just wrong

OBie - 10/12/2011 4:40:10 PM

+4 Boost

Leave it to Mercedes Benz to ruin their only good looking design (besides the S class which is showing it's age already).

LexSucks - 10/12/2011 5:18:53 PM

+1 Boost

Its a dud because of that lame name "shooting brake". What is this? 1950's England?

Icebreaker - 10/12/2011 7:18:29 PM

+3 Boost

It is a disgrace. Initially, it was a two door shooting break. That looked good. But now, it is in a race with the 5 Series GT. What were they thinking!

t_bone - 10/12/2011 7:34:22 PM

+2 Boost

"Caught in the buff"...this is why we need public decency laws.

USNA1999 - 10/12/2011 8:10:50 PM

+1 Boost

What the hell was Mercedes thinking? OMG! This is worse than the R-Class.

FromThePassengerSeat - 10/12/2011 11:23:40 PM

0 Boost

Actually, while the R-class is one of those idiotic cars that tries, inevitably unsuccessfully, to do everything at once and ends up being master of none, the CLS is a decent car as a sedan or wagon.

uhn2000 - 10/12/2011 8:38:10 PM

+4 Boost

BMW has the 550GT and now MERC has this to compete with ugliest cars of the century award!

sdcarguy - 10/12/2011 9:12:12 PM

+1 Boost

I think the c-piller is still camo-ed. Real one may not be that bad.

chris760 - 10/12/2011 11:03:06 PM

+1 Boost

Awkward, camo or not. Just the way the windows are shaped.

FromThePassengerSeat - 10/12/2011 11:30:46 PM

+1 Boost

It's the AMG version that interests me. It seems that AMG is fed up with Cadillac getting all the hyper-wagon glory. Finally, some justice: a couple more non-SUV high-performance cargo haulers are making it to North America. Why anyone would buy an ML63 when this and the E63 are waiting in the same showroom is beyond me.

JUGNU - 10/13/2011 2:31:34 AM

+1 Boost

Mercedes already have E Class wagon, R class and also enough SUVs like GLK and ML so who need this? This model is totally unneeded and very ugly.
BTW i also think C pillar is still covered with camo and it will have semi circle roofline like the CLS and other MB sedans.

AMGee - 10/13/2011 9:18:22 AM

0 Boost

I valeted my car at a restaurant the other day. I have a white W219 CLS63 AMG. When I came out they had it behind a 12' CLS550 with the sports package. A few of the valet guys told me how much better my car looked than the new model.

I have to agree. They ruined this car. It's probably the reason I'm going to jump into a F10 550 or M5 after I'm finished beating up on this thing.

pmrmd - 10/13/2011 9:40:43 AM

+1 Boost

Mercedes went from the most beautiful line of cars to nearly the ugliest. This one doesn't help.

LexSucks - 10/13/2011 1:57:32 PM

-3 Boost

What did think about the Lexus IS wagon? Bet you didn't have a problem with that.

Autopinion - 10/13/2011 3:09:34 PM

0 Boost

Does this share components with the Dodge Magnum? More seriously, do the product planners believe this will stimulate interest or simply provide a halo effect? My guess is no.

wcbrown - 10/13/2011 4:52:42 PM

+1 Boost

Mercedes NO!...just no!

AgentOrange - 10/13/2011 6:08:04 PM

+2 Boost

Crap...

Chevalier - 10/13/2011 7:54:18 PM

+1 Boost

This cls version isn't even out yet. come on ! let's see what the final production will look like when it comes out next year

May be also the GS Shooting Brake will follow Just like how they used to do ...