Following on from the Mercedes-Benz E-Class All-Terrain will be the smaller C-Class equivalent, spied here with less camouflage than before.
Mercedes’ All-Terrain offerings are the antidote to the crossover SUV, instead offering a crossover wagon, much in the vein of Audi’s A6 Allroad and Volvo’s V90 Cross Country. The concept is fairly straightforward: take the long-roof wagon variant of a popular model, raise it a little and add four-wheel drive. What you’re left with is potentially an immensely capable car that doesn’t sacrifice too much style nor practicality in the face of an SUV.
The All-Terrain version of the C-Class will be another new addition to the 2022 junior exec’s line-up, which will extend to include a Cabriolet and AMG version as well. The C-Class All-Terrain is expected to debut in a month’s time at the Munich Auto Show. The Munich Motorshow is also where we’ll see the Mercedes Benz EQE, as well as a host of other models from the three-pointed star.
Read: Mercedes Announces Electric Maybach And AMG Models For Munich Auto Show, and teases EQE.
These images show the C-Class All-Terrain testing with less camouflage than we’ve seen in the past, exposing the hood, roof, and large portions of the doors. But, as these sections are virtually identical to what is found on the sedan and wagon, it doesn’t tell us much.
Crucially, the lower extremities are still under wraps, which likely indicates that the C-Class All-Terrain will include plastic cladding, much like its bigger E-Class brother. It will likely receive mildly reprofiled front and rear bumpers as well to aid approach and departure angles. The C-Class All-Terrain will probably feature underbody protection as well.
A sophisticated four-wheel-drive system is almost a dead cert, likely utilizing the 4Matic umbrella. Engine and transmission options will probably carry over from the 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Right now, that consists of a 2.0-liter mild-hybrid four-cylinder turbo attached to a 9-speed gearbox in North American guise, with Europe also getting 1.5-liter turbo petrol and 2.0-liter turbo diesel options.
It’s also likely that the C-Class All-Terrain will be offered only in limited markets. Demand for SUVs saw Volkswagen drop the Passat Alltrack from its UK line-up.
However, as the E-Cass All-Terrain is already on offer in the US, we’re hopeful that Mercedes is planning on bringing it to the US market.