Mercedes is preparing to take the lead on the luxury station wagon market with the unveiling of an estate version for their CLS model. The car will be first revealed as a concept next month at Beijing motor show, with production version to go on sale in 2012. The CLS Station Wagon will be an alternative for modes like BMW 5-series GT and the soon-to-be-launched Audi A7.

The car will take its inspiration from the Concept Fascination unveiled in 2008 at the Paris Auto Show, but keeping many of the design elements from the current generation CLS. The car will get a soft-nose treatment from the SLS, frameless doors, heavily raked screens, a high waistline and shallow side glass.

Under the hood Mercedes will place both petrol and diesel engine. Petrol line-up will include: a 3.5-liter V6 delivering 306bhp in the CLS350, and a 4.6-liter V8 with 435bhp in the CLS500; diesel versions will include: 2.1-liter with 204bhp in the CLS250 CDI and a 3.0-liter with 231bhp in the CLS350 CDI. The AMG version will be powered by a turbocharged 5.5-litre V8 engine delivering up to 540 hp.

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