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Mercedes-Benz thanks its 9 million Facebook fans

Jonathon Ramsey — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 12:59:00 EST

Filed under: Wagon, Videos, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

Mercedes-Benz has nine million Facebook fans. That's like every single member of genus Homo in Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia and Dallas clicking the friend button. To throw its kisses to the crowd, the Stuttgart brand put together a video led by Finnish director, Anssi Määttä, that combines light painting and the CLS Shooting Brake.

Two isn't necessarily a trend but Ferrari also whipped up a video to thank its horde of virtual pals, of which it has an extra million on M-B. But this one from Mercedes it isn't just a "Danke," it's a "Danke schön." And then some. Feel the love in the video below.

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Mercedes-Benz thanks its 9 million Facebook fans originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 08 Dec 2012 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Brabus goes to work on Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 11:33:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Performance, Wagon, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

Brabus has completed its makeover program for the Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake, with resultant menu ranging from a quick spruce to an all-day overhaul good for 619 horsepower, 737 pound-feet of torque and a top speed of 200 miles per hour.

An aero kit is involved, naturally, and if you thought the slippery wagon was finicky looking before, the Brabus tweaks won't change your mind. The front spoiler lip, sport fenders and wraparound skirting have been engineered to fit on any wagon with or without the AMG bodykit. The Bilstein-developed suspension offerings begin with sport springs, or you can grab all the pork with a completely new suspension that lowers the car by 35 millimeters. Wheels range in size from 17- to 20-inches, in six different designs.

Every engine flavor on the Mercedes-Benz stylewagon is looked after; the diesel CLS250 and 350 CDI BlueEfficiency getting modest and easily installed upgrades that also maintain the Shooting Brake's various driving modes. In Sport mode the 350 CDI can get from standstill to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds. Gas is where it's at, though, the CLS500 BlueEfficiency getting worked up to 500 hp and 531 lb-ft and a top speed of 186 mph. There are a further two tuning choices for the CLS63 AMG, the top-flight option unleashing 619 ponies, 737 lb-ft, the double-ton terminal velocity and a 0-62 mph run of 4.2 seconds.

The press release below has more information, the high-res gallery above has the star of the show.

Continue reading Brabus goes to work on Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake

Brabus goes to work on Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Oct 2012 11:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2013 Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake is bringing sexy-functional back

Steven J. Ewing — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 06:29:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Wagon, Europe, Paris Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

While it might seem like the Mercedes-Bens CLS Shooting Brake was revealed a long time ago, truth is, this is our first time seeing the swoopy four-door coupe-gone-wagon on the auto show circuit. Ever since we first laid eyes on the shooting brake concept at the 2010 Beijing Motor Show, we've been waiting to see how the lines of the production car would all come together to form a cohesive, sleek package. And trust us, dear readers, pixels alone cannot convey just how attractive this beast is.

In Europe, customers will have a choice of five engines. On the diesel side, there's the CLS250 CDI with a 2.1-liter inline-four and the CLS350 CDI with a 3.0-liter V6, and as for petrol power, buyers can choose from the 3.5-liter V6-powered CLS350, 4.6-liter twin-turbo-V8-powered CLS500, and the range-topping (and supremely badass) CLS63 AMG with Merc's 5.5-liter twin-turbo V8. Depending on configuration, both rear- and all-wheel drive are available.

Normally, this is the part where we'd talk about U.S. powertrain specs, but sadly, Mercedes-Benz currently has no plans to offer the svelte CLS on our shores. Drat. Instead, you'll have to make due with the high-res gallery of photos live from the Paris Motor Show floor.

Continue reading 2013 Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake is bringing sexy-functional back

2013 Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake is bringing sexy-functional back originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 Sep 2012 06:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chris Harris discovers new niche with Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG Shooting Brake

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Wagon, Videos, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

There are a number of interesting tidbits in Chris Harris' review of the Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG Shooting Brake, one of them being that he spends most of his seat time talking about the station wagon like it's a sports car. This isn't all that surprising if you limit yourself to the side of the spec sheet that lists "twin-turbo V8 with 557 horsepower and 531 pound-feet of torque, limited-slip differential and seven-speed paddle-shifted transmission."

One the other side, though, is the part about it being more than 16 feet long, having four doors, seating for five and a cargo capacity that can go from 590 liters to 1,550 liters by folding down the rear seats (that's about 21 cubic feet to 55 cubic feet). And that gets Harris examining how a wagon can not only fill a niche, but can actually be something special and, perhaps, even a cult vehicle.

Another measure of how far the automotive world has come is when Harris says, "Only a little 285-section [tire] at the back," which means a new goalpost for "little" tire sizes comes from a review of a station wagon. You can see what else Harris has to say in the video below.

Continue reading Chris Harris discovers new niche with Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG Shooting Brake

Chris Harris discovers new niche with Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG Shooting Brake originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 20 Sep 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG Shooting Brake ist verboten frucht [w/videos]

Jeff Sabatini — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 10:27:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Performance, Wagon, Europe, Videos, Mercedes-Benz, Design/Style, Luxury

Mercedes-Benz has finally revealed images and full details on its 2013 CLS63 AMG Shooting Brake. So now all our whining about it not coming to the U.S. when it goes on sale in October can be official too.

As predicted, the gorgeous CLS63 AMG Shooting Brake will get the same 5.5-liter, twin-turbo V8 as its sedan counterpart, making 525 horsepower in standard models and 557 hp in the limited production "Edition 1." Standard models will make 516 lb-ft of torque, with Edition 1 examples producing 590. That extra grunt will help the Edition 1 hit 62 mph in just 4.3 seconds, as opposed to 4.4 for the standard trim. All cars will receive a seven-speed AMG MCT SpeedShift transmission and be electronically limited to a top speed of 155 mph.

As you'd imagine, the AMG Shooting Brake is offered with plenty of niceties and options, including a Designo wooden luggage floor, done up in cherry inlaid with smoked oak and trimmed with aluminum rails. Unfortunately, Mercedes hasn't come forth with any pictures of this option, but there is a brief cameo of the fine carpentry in the video available by scrolling down. We've even included some footage of a disguised example doing a monster burnout at the recently completed Goodwood Festival Of Speed. While you're back there, check out the official press release, and be sure to inspect the gallery - we'll keep an eye out for additional photos.

Continue reading Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG Shooting Brake ist verboten frucht [w/videos]

Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG Shooting Brake ist verboten frucht [w/videos] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Jul 2012 10:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG Shooting Brake leaks out

Zach Bowman — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Wagon, Europe, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

Someone is in a lot of trouble over at Mercedes-Benz. The automaker accidentally put up a few images and details about the upcoming CLS63 AMG Shooting Brake on its German consumer site, and our friends at Car and Driver gleaned what they could before all the information disappeared again.

Word has it the longroof will make use of the same twin-turbocharged 5.5-liter V8 found behind the headlights of the four-door variant. That means buyers will get to enjoy 518 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. Should those numbers be to skinny, Mercedes-Benz will also offer a performance pack that nudges the figures toward 550 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque. A seven-speed Speedshift automatic transmission will handle gear swapping duties, though the traditional torque converter has been scrapped in favor of a computer-controlled clutch.

As magical as all that sounds, there's still little chance we'll see the machine on our shores. Mercedes-Benz has made it clear the standard CLS Shooting Brake is not meant for U.S. buyers, so it follows the CLS63 AMG will remain similarly forbidden. What a shame. You can check out the full details over at the manufacturer's site, at least until they pull the page.

Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG Shooting Brake leaks out originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Jul 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake gets official

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 15:20:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Wagon, Hatchback, Mercedes-Benz, Diesel, Luxury

We've been anxiously waiting for the wraps to officially come off the 2013 Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake, and by golly, the wait is finally over. Our excitement, though, is tempered by Mercedes-Benz Manager of Product & Technology Public Relations Christian Bokich, who tells us, "Currently, there are no plans to bring the CLS Shooting Brake to the United States." To which we reply, "Boo!"

While we may take a bit of issue with Mercedes-Benz's assertion that "The proportions of the CLS Shooting Brake are surprising but clearly those of a coupé... but with five doors and a roof which continues through to the rear," we're still pretty keen on the exterior look. "In essence it represents an unprecedented version of a sports car with five seats and a large tailgate," adds M-B, and that much we can mostly agree with.

In reality, this is a low-slung station wagon, similar in execution to the Cadillac CTS Wagon, and it looks great. Based on our observations about the CLS ~~four-door coupe~~ sedan that the Shooting Brake is based on, we expect it to be a great car to drive, as well. Europeans will get two gasoline engines - a 3.5-liter V6 making 306 horsepower in the CLS350 and a 408-hp twin-turbo 4.6-liter V8 in the CLS500 - as well as two diesels - a 2.1-liter four cylinder in the CLS250 CDI and a 3.0-liter V6 in the CLS350 CDI.

All but the four-cylinder are available with either rear- or 4Matic all-wheel drive, the smallest engine making use of the rear wheels only. Acceleration comes in at 7.8 seconds to 62 miles per hour for the CLS250 CDI, 6.7 seconds for the CLS350 and 5.3 for the CLS500. Top speed is limited to 155 mph.

Emphasizing the increased utility over its four-door sibling, Mercedes has fitted the CLS Shooting Brake with optional aluminum loading rails and a wooden load compartment floor. Up to 1,550 liters (54.7 cubic feet) are available behind the standard power liftgate, and an automatically adjustable air suspension ensures proper ride and handling even with a load in place. There's even an optional towing kit.

We suggest you peruse the press release below for all the details, as well as a handy explanation of how the Shooting Brake got its name.

Continue reading Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake gets official

Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake gets official originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 Jun 2012 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake reveals more of its rakish rump

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 09 May 2012 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Wagon, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

Last time we saw the non-AMG skin of the Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake it was bathed in red paint and caked in Arctic snow and grime. Warmer times have brought new shots of a black car - which we'll christen The Scarab - on standard wheels wearing nothing but a shine and a wisp of camo. Its shape has found a way to divide opinion, as the CLS-Class has always done, and we'll admit that yes, perchance there's something faintly Romulan about it, but we're totally sold on the looks.

Right now, there's nothing left to the imagination but the aft-most sliver of window - that final angle of chrome is an application. We expect all blanks to be filled in come the Paris Motor Show in September, which should see the reveal of the CLS550 and CLS63 AMG versions of the sleekest wagon this side of Rigel 5. The high-res gallery is above, and you should check it out.

Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake reveals more of its rakish rump originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 May 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake snapped winter testing

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:28:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Performance, Wagon, Hatchback, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

Mercedes-Benz hasn't exactly been secretive about its desire to offer a five-door hatchback version of its ultra-stylish CLS sedan. After all, the first concept for the latest CLS, which was introduced as a 2012 model, introduced us to the CLS Shooting Break Concept at the Beijing Motor Show in 2010. And yes, MB itself called the car a Shooting Break, not Brake.

Based on that concept, we have a pretty solid idea of how the CLS Shooting Brake will look. Judging by these spy shots that were snapped in Northern Sweden, there won't really be any surprises. And that's totally fine by us.

We'd expect Mercedes-Benz to deliver its super hatch in both CLS550 (with 4.6-liter twin-turbo V8) and CLS63 AMG (with 5.5-liter twin-turbo V8) flavors, which means the biggest question left to answer will be whether the company decides to call it the Shooting Brake or the Shooting Break. We, like pretty much everyone else in the world, vote for Brake.

Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake snapped winter testing originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake reveals its rakish rump

Steven J. Ewing — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 09:55:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Wagon, Mercedes-Benz

Late last year, Mercedes-Benz confirmed that its seriously pretty CLS Shooting Brake concept would go into production, and our trusty spy photographers have now caught the first test mules out on the road near the automaker's headquarters. Aside from the addition of some shapely new sheetmetal at the car's hind quarters, not much is expected to change from the standard CLS-Class sedan range, and that's just fine with us.

Expect Merc's new twin-turbocharged 4.6-liter V8 to be the base engine at launch, with a CLS63 AMG Shooting Brake (be still our hearts!) coming down the pipeline. When Mercedes-Benz initially confirmed that the five-door CLS would go into production, we were told it would arrive sometime in 2012, and because these test mules appear to be nearly done with the development phase, we wouldn't be surprised if the final car debuts at the Geneva Motor Show next March (if not sooner).

Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake reveals its rakish rump originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 12 Oct 2011 09:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes-Benz confirms second shooting brake model

Steven J. Ewing — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Wagon, Mercedes-Benz, Design/Style

Wagon enthusiasts, rejoice. Late last year, Mercedes-Benz confirmed that its curvy CLS Shooting Brake concept (pictured) had been approved for production, and now, Automotive News reports that a smaller version is in the works, as well.

Recently, we showed you spy shots of Mercedes' upcoming CLC-Class - a four-door coupe based off of the platform that will underpin the automaker's A- and B-Class vehicles. Like the standard four-door CLC, the shooting brake will be offered with a range of direct-injected, four-cylinder engines (likely with turbochargers), and will be available in both front- and all-wheel drive. Makes sense, since the larger CLS five-door will use the same powertrains from the CLS-Class sedan it is based off of, including the delicious CLS63 AMG version.

Look for the CLC shooting brake to arrive in North America sometime in 2014. The CLC sedan is expected to go on sale sometime in 2013.

Mercedes-Benz confirms second shooting brake model originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Aug 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes-Benz confirms production of CLS Shooting Brake

Damon Lavrinc — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 12:28:00 EST

Filed under: Wagon, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

Mercedes-Benz has confirmed plans to put the CLS Shooting Brake into production in 2012, with the swoopy wagon set to be built along side a handful of other Benz models at its plant in Sindelfingen.

Originally shown in concept form at the Beijing Motor Show earlier this year, the CLS Shooting Brake will likely debut in production guise early next year. The standard CLS sedan powertrains will carry over to the wagon, including the CLS63 AMG version debuting at the LA Auto Show next week. Make the jump for the press blast.

Gallery: Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Break Concept

Continue reading Mercedes-Benz confirms production of CLS Shooting Brake

Mercedes-Benz confirms production of CLS Shooting Brake originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 08 Nov 2010 12:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Beijing 2010: Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Break concept is the four-door coupe of wagons

Steven J. Ewing — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 15:01:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Wagon, Mercedes-Benz, Beijing Motor Show

Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Break concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

The shooting break (yes, it's 'break,' not 'brake', according to M-B's marketers) design isn't something new - we've seen it before in smaller vehicles like the original BMW Z3 M Coupe. Today, though, Mercedes-Benz takes the shooting break concept one step further with the addition of two rear doors and a healthy dose of next-generation style. It's the CLS Shooting Break Concept, folks. Think of this as the four-door coupe for the wagon segment.

The exterior design is awash with swoopy shapes that mimic both coupe and hatchback/wagon elements. Full LED headlamps and sharp 20-inch wheels round off the whole outside package, and if we're honest, we really like it.

Under the hood lies a direct-injected 3.5-liter V6 capable of producing 306 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque (the exact same output as a Cadillac CTS, for what it's worth). Mercedes-Benz hasn't released estimates, but the automaker says that the concept car "sets new standards among the competition in terms of fuel consumption."

Scroll through our gallery below to see live shots of the CLS Shooting Break Concept direct from the floor of the Beijing Motor Show.

Gallery: Beijing 2010: Mercedes-Benz Shooting Break concept

Gallery: Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Break Concept

Beijing 2010: Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Break concept is the four-door coupe of wagons originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Apr 2010 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Break Concept revealed ahead of Beijing *UPDATED

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 19:59:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Performance, Wagon, Mercedes-Benz, Beijing Motor Show, Design/Style, Luxury

Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Break Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

Mercedes-Benz may not have invented the idea of a "four-door coupe" with the original CLS back in 2005, but the German automaker can surely be credited with the recent influx of such designs from automakers as varied and far-ranging as BMW, Jaguar and Hyundai. As such, you can be sure that Mercedes is keenly interested in reinventing the look it made so popular in the first place so as to differentiate itself from its competitors.

As we reported late last month, it seems likely that Mercedes-Benz will use the upcoming Beijing Motor Show to preview its next-gen CLS, along with the introduction of what appears to be a production-ready shooting break design. While the moniker is more often spelled 'shooting brake,' MB is keen to point out that the correct spelling is 'break,' as in breaking a horse that draws a carriage. Whatever the name, we're liking what we see from this concept.

From what we can see in these pictures, which we presume show a conceptual shape that's awfully close to what a future production model will look like, the Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Break seems to be a much more successful design than that of the BMW 5 Series GT that it will undoubtedly be compared to. We'd also wager that the rear hatchback and flat load floor would prove fairly useful in real life due to a suitably tall roof without too much downward slope.

Powerplants for the next-gen CLS are also previewed by this concept. Expect a turbocharged and direct injected 3.5-liter V6 engine with over 300 horsepower along with an uplevel turbocharged 4.6-liter V8 that puts out around 435 horsepower and over 400 pound-feet of torque. Those engines will reportedly provide a 25-percent improvement in fuel efficiency over the mills they replace and will route power to the rear wheels through a seven-speed automatic transmission.

Not powerful enough for you? Perhaps the 5.5-liter V8, complete with turbocharging and direct injection, in the AMG model will be more to your liking. How does up to 563 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque sound?

Expect to see a sedan (codenamed C218) in addition to this shooting brake (codenamed X218) when the next-gen CLS is finally ready for production. Either way, it appears buyers will be getting cutting-edge styling along with a nicely appointed and luxurious interior. As always, we suggest you take a peek for yourself in our high-res image gallery below.

UPDATED: Official press release added after the jump.

Gallery: Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Break Concept

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

Continue reading Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Break Concept revealed ahead of Beijing *UPDATED

Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Break Concept revealed ahead of Beijing *UPDATED originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Apr 2010 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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