Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake on the way

Mercedes’ design boss Gordon Wagener has revealed to WhatCar that they are planning to go exactly the same route with the CLA as they did with the CLS, and create a coupe estate.

The CLS Shooting Brake (pictured below) has been very well received, and with much of the world downsizing its cars a CLA Estate is a very sensible way to go, offering all the good design elements of the CLA – which already looks like a CLS on a boil wash – in a car that has more practicality.

Wagener gave no idea of time scale for the CLA Shooting Brake, but with the first CLAs expected to hit customers in June it wouldn’t be a surprise to see a concept CLA Shooting Brake arrive by the time of the Frankfurt Motor Show in September before going on sale in 2014.

We also learn from Wagener that there are no plans to extend the new A Class model range beyond the regular A Class hatch, GLA SUV, CLA Coupe and CLA Shooting Brake, and talk of a 2-door coupe or convertible is unfounded.

Still, a four model range for the new A class is a strong offering in a market Mercedes has never found easy, and the prospect of a CLA 45 AMG Shooting Brake with 4MATIC 4WD is an enticing prospect as a daily driver.

By Cars UK