Mercedes-Benz is hoping to stay on top of the coupe-like four-door segment it helped popularize with the new CLS Shooting Brake. The production version of the CLS Shooting Brake retains the concept car's dramatic styling with its long hood, shallow greenhouse, and roofline that sweeps back to the tailgate. Aluminum is used in the frameless doors, tailgate, hood, front fenders, as well as in the chassis and suspension. Inside, the CLS Shooting Brake's foldable rear seats include room for a fifth passenger. Mercedes will offer five interior colors, five trim designs, and three varieties of leather for the CLS Shooting Brake. Interior wood choices include high-gloss brown burr walnut, high-gloss black ash, and satin-finish light-brown poplar. Customers can specify piano lacquer or AMG carbon fiber/black piano lacquer trim elements as well as new porcelain interior appointments. The CLS' well-trimmed interior continues in the cargo area, which is lined with high-quality carpet and features leather trim on the side panels. The designo wood-lined luggage compartment floor uses American cherry tree wood, which contrasts with the inlaid smoked oak and brushed aluminium rails, and is supposedly inspired by yachts. Rubber inserts in the aluminium rails protect the wood floor and prevent cargo from sliding around. The rear seats fold to expand cargo capacity while a cargo cover blocks contents from view. A power-operated tailgate is standard. CLS Shooting Brake buyers can choose among two diesel and two gas engines, each mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission with start-stop capability. Diesel choices include the 2.1-liter I-4 in the CLS250 CDI like the one we'll get in the GLK250 crossover, and a 3.0-liter V-6 in the CLS350 CDI. Mercedes will also offer the CLS350 model with a 3.5-liter V-6 gas engine and the twin-turbo 4.6-liter V-8 in the CLS500. All-wheel drive is available with the diesel V-6 and gas V-8 engines.

Mercedes-Benz is hoping to stay on top of the coupe-like four-door segment it helped popularize with the new CLS Shooting Brake. The production version of the CLS Shooting Brake retains the concept car's dramatic styling with its long hood, shallow greenhouse, and roofline that sweeps back to the tailgate. Aluminum is used in the frameless doors, tailgate, hood, front fenders, as well as in the chassis and suspension. Inside, the CLS Shooting Brake's foldable rear seats include room for a fifth passenger. Mercedes will offer five interior colors, five trim designs, and three varieties of leather for the CLS Shooting Brake. Interior wood choices include high-gloss brown burr walnut, high-gloss black ash, and satin-finish light-brown poplar. Customers can specify piano lacquer or AMG carbon fiber/black piano lacquer trim elements as well as new porcelain interior appointments. The CLS' well-trimmed interior continues in the cargo area, which is lined with high-quality carpet and features leather trim on the side panels. The designo wood-lined luggage compartment floor uses American cherry tree wood, which contrasts with the inlaid smoked oak and brushed aluminium rails, and is supposedly inspired by yachts. Rubber inserts in the aluminium rails protect the wood floor and prevent cargo from sliding around. The rear seats fold to expand cargo capacity while a cargo cover blocks contents from view. A power-operated tailgate is standard. CLS Shooting Brake buyers can choose among two diesel and two gas engines, each mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission with start-stop capability. Diesel choices include the 2.1-liter I-4 in the CLS250 CDI like the one we'll get in the GLK250 crossover, and a 3.0-liter V-6 in the CLS350 CDI. Mercedes will also offer the CLS350 model with a 3.5-liter V-6 gas engine and the twin-turbo 4.6-liter V-8 in the CLS500. All-wheel drive is available with the diesel V-6 and gas V-8 engines.

The seven-speed transmission goes through all seven gears smoothly but downshifts can be a little rough depending on how fast the car is moving. The electromechanical power steering setup is precise and well-weighted, and our test car's Airmatic air suspension effectively filtered out imperfections in the pavement. Four driving profiles can be selected by using a switch labeled "Agility" located next to the aforementioned touch pad. In addition to adjusting the air suspension's firmness, each profile alters the steering feedback and the pedal mapping to transform the C from a soft-edged cruiser to a nimble, lively sedan with plenty of grip in the corners. A fifth profile called Individual lets the driver configure the car to his or her liking. The C300 really shines at high speeds, where the smooth, quiet ride that is typically associated with Mercedes sedans has been improved by way of numerous NVH reductions to make the passing miles imperceptible. All told, the hybrid C is more fuel-efficient than a Toyota Prius and nearly as quiet as an E-Class. Leftlane's bottom lineMercedes has raised the bar by giving the C a more emotional exterior design and a stunning interior built with high-quality materials. The icing on the cake is a full arsenal of state-of-the-art convenience and safety features that have trickled down from the S-Class flagship.

A class-action lawsuit has been filed against Mercedes-Benz USA, claiming the company鈥檚 diesel vehicles disable emissions controls in cold weather. The suit claims that when temperatures drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, the engine鈥檚 pollution controls disengage and permit nitrogen emissions to jump to 65 times the Environmental Protection Agency鈥檚 legal limit. For its part, the EPA hasn鈥檛 commented on the suit or accused Mercedes of any emissions cheating. According to NASDAQ, the EPA allows automakers to fit their vehicles with devices that may occasionally increase emissions as long as those devices serve a purpose, such as preventing overheating. The devices must also be disclosed to the EPA ahead of time. A statement from the suit acknowledges that the company may not have fit delete devices to its vehicles, but by turning off emissions controls in certain conditions, it has duped its customers. Mercedes-Benz denies any wrongdoing, according to Automotive News.

A company spokesperson called the lawsuit鈥檚 claims 鈥渂aseless,鈥?arguing Mercedes vehicles pass all regulatory laws and standards. In the past, the company has said that it would never use a defeat device to circumvent a legal requirement. The suit demands that Mercedes-Benz USA recall or buy back all affected vehicles, which include four- and six-cylinder diesel variants of the E-Class and S-Class sedans and GLK-Class, ML-Class, and GL-Class SUVs. The suit also seeks unspecified damages, as a recalled vehicle might not perform as well and would therefore case suffering for its owner. There鈥檚 some argument to be made that the lawsuit could be a case of profiteering. Diesel scrutiny is at an all-time high, due in part to the high-profile nature of the Volkswagen scandal, so it鈥檚 possible that owners of other diesel vehicles might be inclined to judge oil-burners harshly. The same phenomenon occurred in 2009 when Toyota owners blamed the company for several accidents, claiming their vehicles fell victim to the unintended acceleration for which the company became known. Most of those accidents were found to have been caused by driver error, not sudden, uncontrollable acceleration. Whatever the case may be, Mercedes-Benz USA will likely have to answer to the lawsuit and any additional investigation, so the truth should come out soon.