New Mercedes C-Class Estate

Picture, if you can, 44 drinks crates containing six one-litre juice bottles. We know it sounds like a maths lesson, but bear with us, because - according to Mercedes - 44 drinks crates containing six one-litre juice bottles will fit into the boot of the new C-Class Estate, due to be unveiled in Frankfurt next week.

We've seen boots measured in terms of golf bags, suitcases, even shopping bags, but juice bottles is a new one by us. Does Mercedes expect to sell a lot of C-Class Estates to juice wholesalers? Perhaps so, but it's still a random statistic.

We'd like to see boot volumes quoted in wild animal capacity: 'the new Mercedes C-Class Estate will comfortably fit a pair of adult Siberian tigers, with space left down the sides for a few meerkats'.

Anyhow. Juice bottles or otherwise, this is the new C-Class Estate. Hot on the tail of the saloon C-Class, it'll be the biggest premium estate in its class when it goes on sale in the UK next year: all those juice bottles add up to a maximum load volume of 1,500 litres - up almost 150 litres on the last-gen model.

That's thanks in part to the steeply angled tailgate, which opens and closes electronically. It's a good-looking effort all round - especially in Sport guise, Mercedes-speak for the bigger grille with the star set in the centre.

You'll be able to spec the C-Class Estate with an AMG sports package, too, which lowers the ride by 15mm and adds 17-inch light-alloy wheels. No word on an AMG engine yet, but just imagine the C63's awesome V8 under the bonnet and you're in wild Q-car territory already.

For the moment, engine choices remain slightly more sedate - diesels are catered for by the 200 and 220 CDIs, while 1.8- and 2.0-litre Kompressor engines join three six-cylinder efforts in the petrol line-up. Economy looks good, though, with the C200 CDI returning an impressive 47.1mph.

With the exception of the C350, which gets a seven-speed auto transmission, all the engines are coupled to a six-speed manual 'box.

We'll be on hand to see the covers come off the C-Class Estate in Frankfurt, and rest assured that you'll be the first to know exactly what flavour juice it's carrying on board.

© Source: topgear
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