Mercedes plans all-terrain C-Class wagon

Mercedes-Benz is set to take the humble station wagon to new destinations with a range of all-terrain estate vehicles in the pipeline.

The German car maker is set to build on its expanding SUV family with a series of high-riding station wagons that fill a niche between its conventional passenger cars and soft-roaders.

While not yet official, Mercedes-Benz' board member responsible for research and development, Thomas Weber, confirmed to Drive the company is evaluating the concept and will likely follow in the wheeltracks of popular models such as the Subaru Outback to head-off European rivals such as the Volkswagen Passat Alltrack and Audi A4 and A6 Allroad in the burgeoning niche segment.

"Would you laugh at such a car as this?," asked Weber when questioned about the idea during the global launch of the new GLC mid-sized SUV in Eastern France this week.

"I will turn the question around and say 'are we at the end of the body styles and different variants?' No, we are not at the end.

"Now we are across all the SUV line-ups as well as the limousines (sedans and wagons) and coupes, is there a niche with a limousine with a higher all-terrain style? I think so."

The most likely contender to receive the all-terrain upgrade is the C-Class estate as part of its mid-life facelift in 2017. The model is expected to be offered with Mercedes' 4Matic all-wheel drive, adjustable air suspension and the latest suite of electronic off-road driver aids developed for the GLC, as well as subtle body cladding and undercarriage protection.

A Mercedes-Benz insider suggested the E-Class will retain its more conservative approach and not get the high-riding treatment but they could not rule out the possibility of an additional small SUV joining the ranks, either based on the CLA Shooting Brake or a coupe-style version of the GLA.

Weber says the all-terrain concept is not only in response to competition from direct rivals, but the insatiable global appetite for SUVs in all shapes and sizes which he says shows no signs of slowing down. 

"Never, why should it," he said when asked when the SUV boom would end.

"The biggest trend around the globe is for SUV. This is everywhere, and across all segments of the market."