Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 Shooting Brake busts out

The wraps have come off one of the most potent compact wagons ever conceived.

The new second-generation 2020 Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 S Shooting Brake brings a swoopy, curvaceous wagon body-style to the compact AMG range.

Not surprisingly, it deploys the same blazing 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine (310kW/500Nm) as the Mercedes-AMG A 45 hot hatch, in this case propelling the CLA 45 from 0-100km/h in a supercar-like 4.0 seconds flat.

Top speed for the Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 S Shooting Brake is 270km/h.

The world's most powerful four-cylinder production engine drives all four wheels through double-clutch eight-speed automatic, delivering what the company claims is fuel consumption of 8.2L/100km.

With a handy 505-litres of boot space, the 416hp weapon cuts a sharp image but, like all Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake models, will not be sold in Australia.

As previously reported in our Mercedes-Benz CLA price and spec story, the AMG CLA 45 S 'coupe' will arrive in Australia from early 2020 but will not be joined by its wagon sibling.

"It's not coming to Australia, nor is any CLA Shooting Brake," said Jerry Stamoulis, head of product communications at Mercedes-Benz Australia.

That means the more affordable Mercedes-AMG CLA 35 won't be offered here either.

"Wagons are not a growing market," the 'Benz executive told carsales.com.au, stating the German brand was "looking to find efficiencies in our local product portfolio".

The stove-hot Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 Shooting Brake – and garden variety CLA Shooting Brakes – were sold in Australia previously but as wagons continue to fall out of favour with Australian buyers, and models like the Mercedes GLA and GLB come on song, the business case (read: profitability) for wagons becomes challenging.

Like all top-shelf AMG models, the new 2020 CLA 45 Shooting Brake's 2.0-litre engine is hand-built at AMG's production base in Affalterbach, using the 'one man, one engine' principle.

Each engine is signed by the technician who assembles it.

Belting out 310kW at 6750rpm and 500Nm of torque at 5000rpm, the 2.0-litre engine that will be offered in models like the AMG A 45 S and CLA 45 S in Australia is the most powerful 2.0-litre production engine available today.

Boasting cool tech features such as two-stage fuel injection and an advanced cooling system that allows the cylinder head and crankcase temps to be managed independently, not to mention ridiculous turbo boost pressure of 2.1 bar (30 psi), the 1991cc engine is a mechanical marvel.

It's clear that AMG doesn't want Volkswagen to steal its crown of 'world's most powerful 2.0-litre four-banger' either – something the next 300kW-plus Golf R hyper hatch is very much angling for.

The cabin of the AMG CLA Shooting Brake 45 S has a high-performance look and feel, with form-fitting sports seats, lots of red highlights and also features the voice-activated MBUX infotainment system. This also brings a pair of large LCD screens to bear.