Singapore - Call'em what you will, Avant, wagon, touring, estate etc., but there's no denying the appeal of the fired-up 'hot' estate ever since the Audi RS2 Avant first appeared on the radars of petrolheads in the 90s with its supercar-rivalling performance.

Although Mercedes-Benz station-wagons have the more traditional 'TE' variant under the E and C-Class line-ups, the CLS and now the CLA's wagon equivalents are referred to as the more evocative 'Shooting Brake' thanks to their more elegant elongated tail-end, almost teardrop-shaped, treatment versus the more functional square-cut of the TE versions.

The CLA 45 AMG Shooting Brake distills the turbo'd two-litre's frenzied 1.8-bar boost performance and all-wheel drivetrain into a more family-friendly, yet sexy 'Shooting Brake' package.

Of course the car gets all the familiar AMG bits both inside and out, and although we haven't driven it yet, we reckon it'll feature the same rambunctious soundtrack with accompanying snaps, crackles and pops to create a great driving occasion.

"The continued high demand for our high-power compact models more than justifies our decision to launch another exceptionally dynamic high- performance car in the form of the new CLA 45 AMG Shooting Brake," remarked Mr. Tobias Moers, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-AMG GmbH.

"This means that Mercedes-AMG now boasts the most varied model line-up in this segment. The CLA 45 AMG Shooting Brake serves up an enthralling blend of supreme power and dynamic handling on the one hand plus efficiency and everyday practicality on the other, all beautifully packaged within an extraordinary design."

To poke, prod or book, visit Mercedes-Benz Singapore

Mercedes-Benz CLA 45 AMG Shooting Brake
Engine: 1991cc, inline4, turbocharged Power/rpm: 360bhp/6000rpm
Torque/rpm: 450Nm/2250-5000rpm
Transmission: 7spd dual-clutch
0-100km/h: 4.7secs
Top speed: 250km/h
Fuel consumption: 6.9l/100km
CO2: 161g/km
Price: S$296,888 w/COE (only valid till Aug 6th)