When Mercedes-Benz’ Fascination Concept debuted at the 2008 Paris Motor Show, it was believed to be little more than a preview of the new E-Class. However, there may have been more to the concept as a new report indicates the Fascination was also a preview of a forthcoming CLS wagon.

Reports of a production E-Class shooting brake based on the Fascination Concept surfaced last year, but those rumors may have been slightly off. According to AutoWeek, a production version of the Fascination will actually come to fruition in the form of a CLS wagon.

The CLS set the benchmark for four-door coupes when it first hit the market in 2004, and Mercedes is hoping for a repeat performance with a sleek wagon version of the popular car. The overall lines of the CLS wagon – codenamed X218 — should closely mirror that of the Fascination show car, albeit with the addition of two rear doors.

The next-generation CLS sedan is expect to bow in the coming months, but Mercedes will reportedly keep the CLS wagon under wraps until this year’s Paris Motor Show. Production of the CLS wagon is said to be slated for early 2012. The CLS wagon would be a natural competitor to BMW’s recently launched 5-Series GT.

Like the standard issue CLS, the CLS wagon will be largely based on the E-Class’ architecture. Engine choice will include direct-injected V6 and V8 powerplants, with the high likelihood of a turbocharged V8 for an AMG performance model. Rear-wheel drive is a certainty, but Mercedes is also considering the E-Class’ 4Matic all-wheel drive system.

European sales should kick off around mid-2012 and, given the popularity of the CLS sedan, we wouldn’t be surprised to see U.S. sales just thereafter. Americans are still largely opposed to hatchbacks, but given the CLS’s already niche market, Mercedes shouldn’t have a problem selling just a few thousand examples of the CLS wagon here each year.






Or how about an E63 Estate? Ex-squeeze me?? Si, por favor!!

 

CLS wagon is just nasty and the E one is only ok looking.

 

wow.... how to make ugly car even uglier... it looks okay from the front though.

 

I've never seen a Mercedes wagon that I liked. The 300SL gull wing, on the other hand... To give you an idea of how much the world has changed in the past 50 years, when I was a kid, we had a Chrysler assembly line worker renting a room in our house. On an American assembly line worker's salary, he was able to afford a (used) 1956 300SL gull wing for $6000. It was (and still is) an incredible car.