Mercedes previews new CLS AMG estate at Goodwood

Mercedes gave Goodwood Festival of Speed visitors a surprise world preview on Saturday as a heavily disguised AMG version of the new CLS Shooting Brake took to the track.

Revealed: New Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake

New Mercedes CLS Shooting Brake: inspired by Britain

The CLS 63 AMG Shooting Brake completed several runs up the hill as a late entry to the list of performance car drives.

Mercedes test driver and ex-DTM champion Bernd Schneider drove the car at high speed for the crowds – who were also able to check it out in detail within an infield display tent before and after the runs.

Mercedes has not officially announced the AMG version of the new Shooting Brake. However, it is likely the model will use the same 5.5-litre twin-turbo V8 drivetrain as the CLS Coupe.

This would give it a power output of 525hp – or 557hp with the optional AMG Performance Pack. 0-60mph would take around 4.4 seconds and the car’s expected 155mph top speed would be lifted to 170mph-plus with the Performance Pack added – making it one of the fastest estate cars in the world.

Close analysis of the prototype revealed an apparently production-ready model beneath the eye-catching ‘zebra pattern disguise. The Mercedes was wearing 19-inch AMG wheels covering a big AMG braking system, and showed off a full AMG bodykit including distinctive AMG exhausts.

The interior was full AMG-spec too, including the characteristic ‘hoop’ gear selector for the seven-speed AMG Speedshift gearbox.

Mercedes is expected to officially show the CLS 63 AMG Shooting Brake for the first time at the Paris Motor Show, along with the rest of the CLS Shooting Brake that was unveiled at Mercedes-Benz World Brooklands this week.

Revealed: New Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake

New Mercedes CLS Shooting Brake: inspired by Britain