Beijing 2010: Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Break Concept

We know what you're thinking about the headline - we thought it too. Shooting break? Everyone knows it's spelt shooting brake - well, actually not, according Mercedes.

The original way of spelling it is break, and its origin comes from back to the horse-drawn carriage days, being the name given to carriages used to "break" in wild horses and also to restrict (or "brake") their urge to move, so that they could be put to use as work horses.

You learn something new every day! Beyond that, we dare them to use a cool name like this for production instead of a a boring name like wagon. Anyway, enough about the name, let's check the thing out.

There is no doubt one of the most iconic and important introductions of the last decade has been the Mercedes-Benz CLS "four-door coupe."

It has spawned a whole host of copycats -VW Passat CC, Hyundai Sonata - as well as a new class of vehicles like the upcoming Audi A7 Sportback, Porsche Panamera and even the Aston Martin Rapide.

The CLS Shooting Break Concept shows a further development of that concept, on a four-door vehicle, but this time applied to a shooting brake. If Mercedes can make a four-door coupe, they can make a four-door shooting brake - or so the thinking goes.

The styling is a departure, with a bolder, more dramatic front end that Mercedes says takes styling cues from the SLS AMG.

The headlights are full light-emitting diode (LED) units, and they thankfully have no trace of the pervasive dual-headlight setup that all Mercedes cars have been known for in recent years.

Out back, the Shooting Break Concept looks good (got to love that roofline), but we can't help but think the taillights are a bit generic - they definitely don't scream Mercedes to us.

The interior, on the other hand, is nothing but impressive. It uses a similar design template to the interior found in the new E-Class, but it is taken to a whole other level. A lot of this is probably concept detailing, but we hope some of it makes it to production.

The mission of the CLS Shooting Break is to offer each of the four-passengers a high amount of luxury, as well as a spacious load area behind them.  That is something sedans don't offer. It definitely is an intriguing possibility for production that really hasn't been much explored by mainstream automakers.

The powertrain is also a precusor to Mercedes' next-generation V-6, direct injected and set at a 60° cylinder with a displacement of 3.5 liters.  The engine makes 306 horsepower and 370 pound feet of torque.

As is the case with most of what is coming to Beiijing, the CLS Shooting Break Concept looks headed for production - this is likely just a thinly-veiled preview concept. Anyhow, we're excited to hear more about it, and to see Mercedes daring to be a bit different.