Mercedes-AMG Has Its Wicked Way With CLA Shooting Brake

Mercedes-Benz has outed a freshly-fettled car from its AMG tuning division, the CLA 45 AMG Shooting Brake, following up the LA Auto Show last week with its striking Mercedes-AMG GT S. Putting power and a trunk together, the five-door has a 2-liter BlueDIRECT four-cylinder turbo engine with 360 HP and 332 lb-ft of torque, and will do 0-60 mph in 4.7s. It's electronically limited to 155 mph, mind, just to stop you from rattling your IKEA purchases to pieces.

A Speedshift DCT 7-speed transmission with double-declutching and race start comes as standard, along with 4MATIC all-wheel-drive split from 50/50 or all the way to front-wheel drive. Usually, for best efficiency, the front wheels are prioritized, but a clever multiple-disc clutch can shift it to the back seamlessly.

Outside, there's plenty of AMG badging and an eye-catching rear hatch spoiler, while the grille gets matt titanium grey louvres and a contrasting front apron splitter. Twin chromed tailpipes nestle in among a black diffuser at the rear.

Inside, there's leather and microfiber seating, paddle-shifters behind a flat-bottomed sports wheel, aluminum trim, and AMG instrumentation. COMAND Online comes as standard, along with Distronic Plus with collision avoidance, lane-tracking, and a panoramic sunroof.

Unfortunately, AMG fans in the US won't get to join in the fun. The CLA 45 AMG Shooting Brake will only go on sale in Europe, as will its non-tuned CLA sibling.