Mercedes-Benz CLS-Klasse Shooting Brake 2012

The 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake is the five-door, five-seat estate-bodied derivative of the second-generation CLS, known internally as the X218. Revealed in late June 2012 at Mercedes-Benz World on the Brooklands site, it extended the four-door coupé’s design language into a low, elongated rear body. A powered tailgate opened onto a luggage area rated at 590 to 1,550 litres, giving the car useful carrying ability without adopting the more conventional proportions of an E-Class Estate. European versions were offered with four- and six-cylinder diesels, V6 and V8 petrol engines, and the high-performance CLS 63 AMG. Sales began in European showrooms at the start of October 2012.

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Mercedes-Benz CLS-Klasse Shooting Brake 2012

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History

The CLS Shooting Brake formed part of Mercedes-Benz’s effort to occupy a space between established vehicle categories with a more distinctive design. It shared the front end, cabin concept and general proportions of the CLS Coupé, but added a longer roof, a tailgate and an estate-style rear section. Mercedes-Benz used the term “Shooting Brake” in reference to historic vehicles associated with transporting hunting equipment, a body concept that had largely disappeared from everyday automotive use. The world premiere took place at Brooklands in late June 2012, followed by the start of European sales in October. The initial range included the CLS 250 CDI and CLS 350 CDI diesels, the CLS 350 and CLS 500 BlueEFFICIENCY petrol models, and the CLS 63 AMG. All Shooting Brake versions received self-levelling rear air suspension as standard, helping maintain ride height and stability when carrying luggage. This first production phase continued until the CLS facelift introduced in 2014.

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Anecdotes

The choice of Brooklands for the world premiere was deliberate: Mercedes-Benz wanted to connect the new model with the British tradition behind the Shooting Brake name, historically associated with hunting vehicles. The CLS also offered an unusual optional cherry-wood luggage-floor finish. It was a distinctive luxury detail rather than a practical necessity, reinforcing the car’s position between a stylish coupé and a conventional estate.

Production

The X218 CLS Shooting Brake was produced from 2012 to 2014 during its initial phase, before the wider CLS facelift. Mercedes-Benz records that Shooting Brake output was generally lower than that of the CLS Coupé, partly because the estate-bodied model had a shorter production period. The difference was especially clear for the CLS 250 CDI, CLS 350 petrol and CLS 500 versions. The CLS 350 CDI and CLS 350 CDI 4MATIC were more successful, with production figures of roughly 4,000 to 4,500 cars depending on the version and period examined. The consulted archive does not provide one consolidated total covering every engine, drivetrain and production year.

Press reception

Automotive reviewers generally focused on the balance between visual appeal and added practicality. What Car? praised the quiet cabin, relaxed ride, smooth V6 diesel and well-matched seven-speed automatic, while noting the high price and restricted rear visibility. CompleteCar rated the car positively for its design and luggage capacity, but observed that the low roof compromised some of the space available in a conventional estate. Across these tests, the CLS Shooting Brake was viewed as a more distinctive and desirable alternative to a traditional wagon, although not the most rational choice for maximum passenger or cargo room.

Evolution

The range evolved quickly after launch. In 2013, Mercedes-Benz progressively dropped the BlueEFFICIENCY suffix from the affected model names. The same year, the CLS 63 AMG gained an output of 557 hp and became available with AMG 4MATIC all-wheel drive. Mercedes-Benz also introduced the CLS 63 AMG S 4MATIC, whose V8 produced 585 hp and used a rear-biased torque distribution. These additions expanded the performance range while leaving the fundamental Shooting Brake concept unchanged. The first X218 body phase was subsequently replaced by a facelifted CLS family in 2014.

Variants

The 2012 range covered several distinct mechanical configurations. The CLS 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY used a nearly 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel producing 204 hp. The CLS 350 CDI employed a 3.0-litre V6 diesel rated at 265 hp, with a 4MATIC version also available. On the petrol side, the CLS 350 BlueEFFICIENCY used a 3.5-litre V6 producing 306 hp, while the CLS 500 BlueEFFICIENCY featured a nearly 4.7-litre twin-turbo V8 rated at 408 hp and was also offered with 4MATIC. The range-topping CLS 63 AMG Shooting Brake launched with a 5.5-litre twin-turbo V8 producing 525 hp. Exact availability differed between markets.