Internally dubbed the X117, what we refer to as the Mercedes-Benz CLA Shooting Brake has been spied by the carparazzi a few too many times for the better part of the current year. At long last, the German manufacturer decided to end the waiting and this is the lil’ mongrel wearing normal and AMG clothes.
When I say mongrel, I mean it. The Shooting Brake-grade CLA is a product of two different breeds - a coupe-ish four-door saloon and a glorified wagonette, minus the gun racks and accommodation for the ammunition. Although the CLA Shooting Brake isn’t a purebred, it’s an achingly beautiful automobile to behold and use as a daily driver.
autoevolution has spent some time behind the wheel of the CLA 200 CDI with the dual-clutch seven-speed automatic and we kind of liked it. To boot, we were lovestruck with a CLA in 45 AMG clothes, used as a mere taxi by one of the coolest moms we’re ever met, a woman that was previously a Porsche driver.
But the Shooting Brake will make things more practical for the CLA breed. With 4,630 mm in length, a 1,777 mm width and a tallish 1,435 mm height, spaciousness is the strength of the Shooting brake. The load compartment offers a capacity that ranges from 495 (17 cu.ft.) to 1,354 liters (47.8 cubic feet).
If the rear seats are moved into a more steeply raked position, the load capacity increases to hefty 595 liters (21 cubic feet) while still leaving enough space for five occupants. In terms of firepower, customers are offered a pair of diesels and three petrol engines. 4Matic all-wheel drive is also available. Last but not least, a CLA 45 AMG Shooting Brake is also offered, with 360 ponies and 450 Nm (332 lb-ft) of torque.
The CLA Shooting Brake is slated to go on sale in January 2015, with first deliveries coming in March.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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