Looking to buy a fast practical wagon? This might be of interest. It’s the new Mercedes-AMG CLA 35 Shooting Brake. It joins the recent A 35 hatch, sedan, and 4-door coupe.
Like the others, the Shooting Brake is an intermediate performance model slotting below the upcoming CLA 45, which is yet to be unveiled for the latest generation. Power comes from a 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder that produces 225kW and 400Nm.
Matched up to a seven-speed dual-clutch auto with 4Matic all-wheel drive, accelerating from 0-100km/h takes just 4.9 seconds. This makes it one of the quickest cars in the class, and the quickest wagon in the class if you exclude the Audi RS 3 Sportback (which is more of a hatchback).
It looks cool, too. The new Shooting Braking is part of a rare style of vehicle, presenting a wagon-like profile with coupe tendencies. Towards the back you’ll notice a swooping roofline and raked D-pillar, while the AMG pack adds a discreet aero kit including subtle rear diffuser, side skirts, and an extended front apron. It’s all topped off with a set of 18-inch alloy wheels, or optional 19s.
Passengers are presented with a stylish and sporty interior decor, with sports seats for the front passengers, and the latest MBUX digital interface spearing across the dash. Two digital screens are used, including one for the instruments and another for the on-board media and vehicle settings.
The driver can also play around with Classic, Sport, and Supersport display themes for the instruments, and there’s a bunch of driving modes to select from. AMG Ride Control suspension is entwined into the driving modes, providing the versatility of comfort or sharper handling.
Mercedes will be launching the new model in Europe a little later this year. As for Australia, the latest-gen CLA Shooting Brake isn’t set to be offered here in any form, which means this AMG version isn’t likely to make it either, unfortunately.
