Mercedes studying all-terrain C-Class

The second-best selling medium car in Australia after the $27,000 Toyota Camry, the $60,000 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, could be about to get a whole lot more adventurous.

Mercedes-Benz is studying the idea of a high-riding, all-terrain wagon, most likely based on the C-Class Estate (pictured), which would rival rugged wagons such as the Audi A4 Allroad, Passat Alltrack and Subaru Outback.

Although nothing has been officially confirmed, a top executive at Mercedes-Benz, head of vehicle research and development Prof. Dr. Thomas Weber, told journalists at the GLC launch that the German car maker is actively studying the idea of durable, wagon-based passenger vehicles.

Weber noted that Benz now has "the ability to be faster, more flexible" in its development of new vehicles, and with the demand for SUVs booming
, high-riding variants of its wagons are not out of the question.

"We are able to do more variants for less money," he stated.

"Now we are across with all the SUV line-ups and the limousines and coupe styles. Is there a niche for limousines [sedan/wagon] with a higher all-terrain? Yes we are studying all these directions," the Mercedes-Benz R&D supremo confirmed.

Mercedes-Benz has recently embarked on an SUV expansion, that includes a range of new and renamed vehicles starting with the small-sized GLA, the just-launched GLC, the large GLE and the GL behemoth. Throw in coupe versions of half those models and it's clear that Benz wants to be the luxury SUV king.

So with quicker, smarter new vehicle development yielding increased profits, Mercedes' brains trust is eagerly looking at new opportunities. What's not clear is which vehicles are being scrutinised for the high-ride suspension, 4Matic all-wheel drive system and obligatory body cladding.

The strong-selling C-Class is the most likely candidate for a cut-through makeover to give the Audi Allroad series some competition and although Weber wouldn't be drawn on specifics, he gave a strong indication that Stuttgart's new model expansion is far from over.

"Are we at the end of body styles and different variants? No, we are not at the end," he mused.