It might have an estate car rear end, but forget that for a moment as the Shooting Break concept Mercedes is exhibiting at the Beijing Motor Show previews the front end of the new CLS. The next-generation four-door coupé is due to be unveiled officially at the Paris Motor Show this autumn, in time for UK sales next spring, but if you want to see what it'll look like from the B-pillar forwards then the Shooting Break gives a not very subtle hint.

Mercedes has taken to revealing its new coupés in concept estate guise lately, the E-Class coupé's looks signalled by the Fascination concept in 2008. The Shooting Break shares its styling direction with the F 800 experimental vehicle, as well as taking cues from the SLS AMG supercar. Mercedes insiders state that the niche estate explored by the two recent concepts signals internal momentum to put such a model into production. Mercedes will be monitoring customer reaction to the Shooting Break concept at its China revealing.

If it's positive then the Shooting Break could be a production reality relatively soon, as it shares much of its structure with the forthcoming CLS. The interior of this show car also hints at the CLS's, Mercedes retaining the bespoke cabin specification of the outgoing model. Expect a single piece of wood spanning the dashboard, along with the four individual seats of this concept to make it through to the production four-door 'coupé'.

"The Shooting Break concept car is based on the great tradition of a stylish, cultivated sportiness which has always characterised the great Mercedes Coupés, and it takes this unique legacy an exciting step further", explains Professor Gorden Wagener, chief designer at Mercedes. "At the same time it points the way towards the future design idiom of Mercedes-Benz."

The concept debuts Mercedes' latest LED headlamps, these available with Intelligent Light System and Adaptive Highbeam Assist. The production CLS will also feature the latest V-engine generation as fitted to the Shooting Break concept. With spray-guided direct injection and start/stop the new units promise even greater economy and emissions. The show car's 3.5-litre unit produces 302bhp and 272lb.ft of torque.

Concept touches like the wood-floored rear luggage compartment and golf-ball and laptop stowage areas are likely to be binned for production, but the exterior, a few overt concept details aside, is largely as the car will look in the showrooms. In four-door coupé guise at least as the CLS; if you want Mercedes to make the Shooting Break as it is then pester your dealer now. We will be doing just that.

Kyle Fortune - 20 Apr 2010