Mercedes has been caught putting the finishing touches on its next-generation CLA Shooting Brake. The compact estate is a key part of Merc’s new four-car small car strategy that kicked off with the CLA saloon in recent months, and will be completed by new GLA and GLB SUVs.
A new A-Class is missing from that list because Mercedes has decided to kill off its high-selling hatchback, leaving this Shooting Brake as its indirect replacement.
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The prototype spotted here is the mild-hybrid variant, as seen by its open grille, but like the saloon will also launch in a full EV form. The nose will be identical on the two body styles, but from its rear door back, the Shooting Brake will retain its predecessor’s sloping roofline, balancing both style and practicality.
Expect to see similar rear lights to the saloon under the camouflage, with the same three-pointed star lighting signature and dashed light bar.
The screen-heavy cabin will also be brought across unchanged, made up from a single black panel that integrates a big 15.4-inch touchscreen in the centre, plus a 10-inch driver’s display and optional 15.4-inch passenger display. As we’ve found out from the CLA saloon, this new generation of Mercedes features a new digital architecture that operates across all the electronic elements, making it updatable over the air.
