shooting brake

We just spent the last few days bouncing around Germany driving the 2011 Audi TT and the powertrain-enhanced Q7 (review next week), and between bouts on the autobahn and a few factory tours, we pestered our hosts about some of their Euro-only products and what we can expect in the future.

Earlier this month, we heard rumors that coachbuilder Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera planned to introduce a new bespoke version of the Bentley Continental GT. Now we've got confirmation that the firm will indeed introduce an shooting brake based on the GT at the Geneva Motor Show early next month.

Because of the sheer volume, it's hard for us to keep up with every single comment on every single post. However, sometimes the comments on a certain post are so, um, compelling, we watch 'em like our mother watches One Life To Live. To paraphrase the bulk of the comments concerning the most likely phony Porsche Cayman Shooting Brake post, "It's really ugly and we hate it." Yes, well... that's an opinion. But rather than wax long form about our implacable love of all things two-door wagony, check this sucker out!

Yes, well, wouldn't this be something. We've heard rumors and innuendo concerning the supposed Porsche Cayman Shooting Brake. In many ways, a shooting brake (also properly spelled with a hyphen -- shooting-brake) is the perfect vehicle. Small and light like a sports car, but capable and practical like a station wagon. Combine chocolate with peanut butter and voila! A most excellent product.

Camera phones are turning into quite an asset in this business, as readers of various automotive news sites across the interwebs and around the world have turned into legions of spy photographers. In this instance, one such reader-turned-paparazzo (apparently in Italy, no less) caught on video what appears to be some sort of Porsche Cayman Shooting Brake test mule.

BMW's 1 Series is stuck between a rock and a hard place, neatly slotting in between BMW's perennial best-selling 3-series and the FWD wunderkind, MINI. Loaded-up Coopers pass the $30K mark with ease and the base 3-Series model starts in the same neighborhood. This doesn't leave much wiggle room with the 1 Series, but BMW is looking to make the most of what little extra market share is available. One segment that the Bavarian automaker is looking to explore is the "shooting brake" body style (think 2-door wagon) that would add a dose of practicality to the small coupe in the form of a rear hatch.

Click the image above for a high-res gallery of the Mercedes ConceptFASCINATION

When the doors open at the Paris Motor Show next month, Mercedes-Benz will be giving everyone a sneak peek of the new E-Class front-end styling. No, not in the form of the new E-Class itself, which will be unveiled at a later date, but in the ConceptFASCINATION, an attractive shooting brake concept based on the upcoming E-Class Coupe's architecture and featuring the new E's front-end styling.