Mercedes to add Shooting Brake to arsenal?

BMW has of late been prolific in spawning multiple body styles off existing platforms -- with the X1 (more here) and 5 Series GT (more here) being just two recent examples -- but Mercedes-Benz isn't exactly sitting on its thumbs either.

UK's Autoexpress magazine reports that the three-pointed star has given the production green light to the offbeat 'Shooting Brake' Fascination Concept revealed at last September's Paris motor show.

The three-door wagon -- reportedly being readied for a 2011 launch -- will add yet another rung to the E-Class family, supplementing the recently released sedan (more here), coupe (more here) and upcoming station wagon and convertible.

In case you're wondering about the peculiar 'Shooting Brake' moniker, the term has been used in the past to describe custom-built two-door luxury station wagons tailored for hunters and other sportsmen such as golfers, riders, and polo players requiring easy access to a larger luggage bay than that offered by a conventional sedan's boot.

Getting back to the Fascination Concept, it features many of the styling cues seen on the W212 E-Class sedan, but its tapered roofline and wide-hipped derriere distinguish it as a clearly separate entity.

The engine line-up will reportedly be as per the E-Class, which means a range of four-, six- and eight-cylinder petrol/diesel powerplants, and Mercedes-Benz's clean-burning BlueEFFICIENCY technology will be available, according to Autoexpress.

Meanwhile, get set to see a production version of the conventional (ie: five-door) E-Class wagon at September's Frankfurt motor show, while a drop-top variant of the new Coupe is tipped to follow not long after.

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