Electric SUVs are a dime a dozen these days. But electric wagons or shooting brakes? Rarer than snow on the Nullarbor.
But that could to change if Mercedes-Benz hits the go button on an sleek and stylish electric shooting brake, which would expanding the EQE sedan range that currently tops out with the Mercedes-AMG EQE 53.
It’s understood the German luxury car-maker has been considering the idea of an electric EQE wagon, which would essentially be an E-Class Estate EV but with more panache, for some time.
And now Mercedes-Benz’s global vehicle development boss has refused to rule it out when quizzed by carsales on the matter.
“I don’t answer the [electric] wagon question right now, but it’s always a question of how different body types are going to be successful,” stated Mercedes-Benz product development chief Jorg Bartels during the global media launch of the new GLC mid-size SUV.
Sales of station wagons have dropped off a cliff as the popularity of SUV has boomed over the last couple of decades, and while wagons really only remain popular in Europe – and especially Germany – that hasn’t stopped Benz from developing unique ‘shooting brake’ wagon versions of the CLS and CLA-Class.
“[CLA] Shooting brake works very well. It’s a good selling car in the compact segment,” said Bartels.
Mercedes-Benz’s global product chief was careful not to confirm the development of an all-electric Mercedes-Benz EQE wagon or shooting brake, but it’s clear the idea has not been dismissed by the Stuttgart car-maker’s inner sanctum.
A style-focussed super-luxury electric wagon with striking visuals (like the one rendered here) and unique selling points – like blistering dual-motor AWD performance and perhaps an innovative cargo system – could appeal to range of customer types and would be unique in the market.
At least until the next-generation Audi RS6 Avant switches over to full electric.
Watch this space.