Mercedes has revealed its latest concept car, the Concept Fascination, which is a coupé-cum-estate that'll be revealed in the metal at the
Paris motor show in October. Despite Mercedes' history of creating new niches the genre-busting concept isn't likely to ever be realised in production form. Instead, the Concept Fascination debuts the company's new design direction, the new headlamps, grille and more angular bonnet expected to feature on future production models.
The first to feature the style previewed by the Concept Fascination will be the next-generation E-Class, which is expected to be unveiled early next year. A new CLK will follow that. Each will take styling cues from the Fascination design study: the new head and taillights - both containing LED elements - are certain to be retained. The bolder lines around the bonnet, flanks and wheelarches will also become a feature on forthcoming production cars.
Being a concept, Mercedes' designers have let their imaginations run wild. The interior is a mix of modernity and traditional materials, the leathers used designed to convey an equestrian feel inside. A four-seater, the individual seats are separated by a pronounced centre console covered in leather. The boot floor is created entirely from wood, compartments either side of it containing binoculars and a high quality digital camera with a Leica lens. A smoked glass table rises from under the floor where there's a refrigerated compartment for champagne and a humidor for cigars - Mercedes seeing its concept as the perfect shooting brake for a day at the races.
The interior is bathed in light thanks to a full-length glass roof, while all the side windows can be opened to reveal a pillar-less profile. Although Mercedes is claiming the Fascination is strictly a concept it's based on a production platform and uses a production engine - a 201bhp 2.2-litre turbodiesel featuring emissions and economy improving AdBlue and BlueTec technology. We rather like it here, and hope that the public reception at Paris is enough to convince Mercedes to put it into production.
Kyle Fortune - 11 Sep 2008