Mercedes CLA 45 AMG Shooting Brake

Mercedes has unveiled its new CLA 45 AMG Shooting Brake. Sitting above rivals like Audi's S4 Avant and VW's Golf R Estate, the new car's distinctive design adopts the form of the larger CLS 63 AMG Shooting Brake by utilising a four-door, five-seat configuration with a large tailgate.

Power is derived from the world’s most powerful four-cylinder production engine. The 2-litre turbo boasts an output of 355bhp and 332lb-ft of torque. All that power sees the new car shoot (get it?) from 0-62mph in 4.7sec before hitting its electronic limiter at 155mph. This marginally bests Audi’s hot new RS Q3, while also being able to return a respectable 32mpg.

Much of the technology that debuted previously on the CLA has been carried over to the AMG. The 7-speed DCT and AMG’s performance 4MATIC all-wheel-drive are combined to help provide the rapid performance, which depending on driving conditions, can split torque between the front and rear wheels 50:50. When not needed, the car remains a front-wheel drive for maximum efficiency. Also featuring on the new Shooting Brake are independent steering knuckles, as well as axle bearings that have a more rigid design, helping with turn-in and handling characteristics.

The most unique aspect of the Shooting Brake is its versatile luggage compartment which can swallow up to 1354 litres of luggage (though this is some 76 litres shy of the Audi S4 Avant's 1430). Also benefiting from this design change is the increased headroom for rear passengers over the standard CLA.

Occupants will also be treated to sports seats up front in Artico leather and microfiber, with red stitching and matching seatbelts. Aluminium trim, galvanised air vents and a two-tube instrument cluster frame the central colour display. Standard equipment features bi-xenon headlamps, a USB multimedia system, adaptive brake, attention assist, ESP curve dynamic assist and collision prevention, which are aimed at keeping you safe while exploring the AMG’s potent performance.

Merc's new Shooting Brake will not only be reserved for high performance clients, as it is also available in both non-AMG petrol and diesel versions, which all use four-cylinder engines. The diesels both use a 2.1-litre engine with 134bhp in the CLA 200 CDI and 174bhp in the top CLA 220 CDI. The petrol is available as a 1.6-litre in CLA 180 and CLA 200 guise, outputting 120bhp and 154bhp respectively. While the top of the range petrol, the CLA 250, uses a 2-litre which churns out 208bhp and is also available as a separate model with 4MATIC.

Prices for the Shooting-Brake models have yet to be released, but they'll likely increase on the coupé's £42,270. Order books will open for the Mercedes CLA 45 AMG Shooting Brake when it makes its show debut at the Geneva International Motor Show in March 2015.