In October 2004, Mercedes-Benz established an all-new vehicle segment with the now iconic CLS-Class - our first ever four-door coupé. And in September 2008, we developed the coupé concept further with the FASCINATION concept car.

Both these vehicles have had a profound influence on our latest concept car, the Shooting Break – a revolutionary mix of coupé styling with estate car space and practicality.

“The Shooting Break concept car is based on the great tradition of a stylish, cultivated sportiness which has always characterised the great Mercedes coupés, and it takes this unique legacy an exciting step further,” explains Professor Gorden Wagener, chief designer at Mercedes-Benz. “At the same time it points the way towards the future design idiom of Mercedes-Benz.”

Breaking new ground in vehicle design, the Shooting Break elegantly combines classic coupé proportions - the long bonnet, the low, frameless side windows, the dynamic sloping roof – with the convenience of four doors and an estate-style rear.

Drawing on design elements from the SLS AMG supercar, the expressive front end features a distinctive radiator grille with bold central star. Significantly, the grille is not integrated into the bonnet – it’s been designed as a “soft nose” to help improve pedestrian protection.

The grille is flanked by full LED headlamps, which for the first time offer all the dynamic light functions of our existing bi-xenon system, such as cornering light technology and Adaptive High Beam Assist.

Moving back along the vehicle, the athletic profile is enhanced by a striking beltline which arcs towards the rear – a fresh take on the “dropping line” of iconic Mercedes-Benz coupés. Muscular haunches, wrap-around tail lights, twin pipe exhaust system, 20” sterling silver wheels and a unique satin paint finish further emphasise the Shooting Break’s striking presence.

A large panoramic glass sunroof offers a glimpse into the sumptuous, hand-crafted interior where natural materials such as wood and leather abound. The luggage compartment even features an exquisite oak floor with inlaid aluminium loading strips - a finish more commonly associated with luxury yachts.

In addition, the Shooting Break incorporates almost ten square metres of fine quality leather - from the perforated metallic-silver finish seat cushions to the four saddle bags in the luggage compartment.

For comfort and convenience, the cabin is fitted with four identically shaped leather seats with integrated head restraints and a large full-length wooden centre console, complete with inlaid Mercedes-Benz lettering. Other details include matt finish aluminium trim and deep-pile carpet in the footwells, as used by
Maybach-Manufacture.

Clearly, dramatic styling and luxurious appointments are central to the Shooting Break concept car. But it also showcases pioneering technology, including the forerunner to the forthcoming V-engine generation from Mercedes-Benz. This spray-guided direct injection engine uses the latest piezo-electric injection valves to optimise efficiency while generating some 306 hp and maximum torque of 370 Nm.

And what of the concept vehicle’s name? “Shooting Break” refers to a specific vehicle bodyshape made popular in the 1960s and 1970s – particularly in Great Britain – that blended coupé luxury with estate practicality. The term has its origins in an old-fashioned carriage used to break in wild horses.