Mercedes-Benz CLA Shooting Brake breaks cover

Here’s the CLA Shooting Brake, the fifth and final model based on Mercedes-Benz’s small transverse-engine MFA platform.

The five-door fashion wagon joins a family already comprising A-Class, B-Class, CLA and GLA.

European deliveries of the standard range and high-performance CLA 45 AMG Shooting Brakes are scheduled to begin in March next year.

While Mercedes will initially manufacture the model with a total of four petrol and two diesel engines, expect the local line-up, when it arrives, to follow the pattern set by the closely related and coupish CLA four-door.

This means three levels, all turbocharged petrol-burners – 115kW 200, 155kW 250 Sport with 4matic all-wheel drive, plus the potent all-wheel-drive-only 265kW 45 AMG.

In terms of both style and practicality, the Shooting Brake is a more attractive car than the awkwardly proportioned CLA four-door with its cramped rear seat. The Shooting Brake features 40mm more rear-seat headroom and a usefully large 495-litre cargo compartment.

A special version of the CLA Shooting Brake named OrangeArt Edition will add some citrus-like tang to the market launch. This limited-run model features orange highlight rings around its bi-xenon headlights, AMG alloy wheels with orange rim flanges and orange striped and stitched seat coverings.