SPY: The 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake (X 218) Scooped In Stuttgart

Even though we were expecting a NYIAS 2012 premiere for the newest addition to the Mercedes-Benz' niche lineup, the CLS Shooting Brake will make the first stage appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2012 at the end of June. The estate version of the business 4-door coupe will most likely become a hit, given Europe's appetite for special types of vehicle which combine multiple attributes from various automobile classes. However, being the first 4-door wagon coupe on Earth gives the CLS SB in some serious challenge as entitling yourself as trendsetter is a risky attitude no matter how many successful past experience you have. This difficult task is somewhat eased as the X 218 project builds its confident package on the winning formula of its coupe brother, which meant design over practicality to stand visibly above the crowd. The heavily dropping roofline is transposed on a longer wheelbase body without many efforts, in a true Mercedes-Benz style that would make even classy the CL 2-door coupe feel envious about. Other than that, the entire styling you find on the standard CLS is carefully adapted to the new version. Inside, one should find the same aristochratic atmosphere as in the C 218 thanks to the high-quality, premium touch, the minute attention to details and the exquisite equipment.

From a performance perspective, what little power the diesel concedes to its petrol sibling is more than made up for with an additional 50Nm of torque at its disposal. So called ‘turbo-lag’ is another unwanted feature of small diesels, but thankfully, it has largely been engineered out of the new B-Class. Turbo lag is minimal, and the diesel is quiet and refined. There’s very little of that annoying clatter, even at idle - a common trait that seems to plague many of the smaller diesels these days. Equally polished is the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission that drives the front wheels and is standard on all models. It’s not the quickest-shifting dual-clutch system on the market, but the gearchanges are smooth and effortless. More driver engagement can be had from using the steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters - also standard equipment on B-Class. The B-Class employs electro-mechanical power steering that provides good weighting from the straight-ahead position and provides a decent level of communication for the driver without being too sensitive for the type of vehicle that the B-Class is. Through corners, the B-Class feels well composed with only a fraction of body roll.

The B-Class also has the ability to iron out the worst of our roads surfaces, though equip your B-Class with the optional lowered sports suspension and 18-inch-wheel combination and the ride becomes harsher. Inside, interior presentation and quality is vastly improved on the previous B-Class. The list of standard features is also extensive, with overall value improved on the last-generation model. There are also six option packages to choose from. Select the Comand Package, for example, and apart from the 17.8cm colour display, HDD navigation and Harman Kardon sound system with 12 speakers and a host of other kit, you also get Internet connectivity and integration with Google Maps. The front seats are well designed to accommodate a variety of body shapes and provide high levels of comfort and support, and that’s regardless of whether you choose the man-made leather or fabric upholstery. If we had to make a call, we’d say the fabric seats on the entry-level B180 are the most comfortable. The sports leather steering wheel is superb to hold, and it doesn’t feel that much different to those found in more expensive Benzes. Active and passive safety kit includes ‘collision prevention assist’ system, a radar-based system that monitors the distance between you and the vehicle in front. If the system senses an impending crash, an audible and visual alarm warns the driver and prepares the brakes to assist. There are also nine airbags throughout the B-Class - front, pelvis, side and window bags for driver and front passenger, side airbags for rear seat passengers and driver’s knee bag.

Any Bluetooth-enabled cell phone will work hands-free - even with the phone in a pocket or purse, the audio is automatically muted when a call is made or received and callers are heard over the audio system speakers. In addition, phone book info can be displayed by the COMAND system. The modified design reflects the effortless superiority and power of the S-Class sedan. It is characterized by the more pronounced arrow-shape of the radiator grille, plus a new front bumper with a discreet light-catching contour and a chrome strip below the cooling air intakes. Exhaust tailpipes of all S-Class variants are visibly integrated into the rear bumper. The headlamps incorporate bi-xenon technology and LED indicators on the lower edge of the headlamp as standard. Eye-catching highlights on the S400 HYBRID are provided by the two round foglamps and daytime driving lights on each side of the front bumper. Their location at the outer edges of the bumper underlines the muscular character of the S400 HYBRID.