VTC-Hotnews

[Cartoday]

You have to wonder just how often the ‘exploit every niche imaginable’ card can be played when you see something like this – a CLK estate.

This rendering shown by the folks at Auto Express intends to give us an idea of what happens when CLK meets an estate. Dubbed the CLT, this model will be unveiled at next month’s Paris Motor Show as first three-door estate ever built by Mercedes-Benz.

The original idea involved the Stuttgart firm commissioning a designer to create a shooting brake version of the SLK, in a bid to compete with BMW’s Z4. It was, however, decided that the CLK’s shape lent itself better to such a design.

The front-end styling has been cobbled together from a number of spy shots of the upcoming E-Class and takes in angular twin headlights, a sizable grille and strong creases on the bonnet and front wings.

It’s from the B-pillar onwards that conventionality puts up its feet and raises its hands. From that point onwards, the roofline has been extended to create a big boot, a huge side glass area and a low, elongated profile. It’s more of a shooting brake than an estate, but still manages to cram a great deal of practical space into a relatively compact body.

Under the bonnet, the CLT is expected to mount a Bluetec diesel hybrid drivetrain, in two states of tune, is likely to make production. The engine line up for the upcoming CLK coupe comprises two new 3,0-litre petrol engines, developing between 166 kW and 222 kW, a 2,2 turbodiesel with 150 kW, and a 4,6-litre petrol V8 with 320 kW on tap. Whether any of these powerplants will find their way to the CLT remains to be seen.

The CLT concept will make its debut at the Paris Motor Show next month, and go on sale some time in 2010.