Benz Will Give Beijing A (Shooting) Break

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

The fabled Mercedes “Shooting Break” (or Brake ) is one step closer to productiondom. Gasgoo reports that the Shooting Break will make “its world debut at the Auto China motor show later this week.” Meaning Friday, the 23rd. TTAC will be there.

Say our friends at Gasgoo: “Rather than the Shooting Break just being some ambitious concept that will never see the light of day, it sounds and looks like we are being given a glimpse of how the next generation CLS will look.”

Alright. But someone explain to me why Sindelfingen insists on using names that conjure up images of shot brakes? Aren’t the reading the Toyota news?

Bertel Schmitt
Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.

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  • Contrarian Contrarian on Apr 21, 2010

    What's the difference between a shooting brake and a station/estate wagon?

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    • Russycle Russycle on Apr 21, 2010

      Got me curious, cue Wikipedia: "In the early 19th century, a brake was a large carriage-frame with no body, used for breaking in young horses. By the late 19th century the meaning had been extended to a large waggonette designed for country use. A "shooting brake" carried a driver and gamekeeper facing forward and up to six sportsmen on longitudinal benches with their dogs, guns and game carried alongside in slat-sided racks." I like my explanation better. I doubt you'll get six sportsmen with their dogs, guns, and game in the back of that Mercedes, but it would be fun to watch someone try.

  • Contrarian Contrarian on Apr 21, 2010

    I can see the 2-door as having a special designation since 2-door wagons are not the norm. This Benz looks to have very little useable rear cargo area, which is also a deviation from a standard [practical] wagon.

  • Panzerfaust Panzerfaust on Apr 21, 2010

    Yes, quite. What will the comrades be shooting?

  • Accs Accs on Apr 22, 2010

    Man.... This just plain stinks. Maybe Im in the minority, but damn that's not what a SHOOTING BRAKE is designed to be.. Its SUPPOSED to be a lightweight AND DRIVABLE vehicle, to do things that a coupe can not, where as a 5dr wagon would be too long / big. Gives me the shivers.. to think this could be put in production with an est price of 50g.

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