Mercedes Fascination

It's Mercedes' fascinating take on the future, and Auto Express has driven it first!

An undisputed star of this year's Paris Motor Show, the ultra-stylish Fascination represents the very latest in the firm's design and technology.

Officially, the shooting brake is a blueprint for the all-new E-Class, and with its long, lithe bodywork, it also hints at the look of the next CLK. And as both of those models are set to remain top-secret until early next year, our exclusive drive offers the clearest view yet of what will be on offer.

In the flesh,the Fascination is one of Mercedes' most dramatically styled models ever. As well as a distinctive headlamp design, it gets a deep front grille and a sharp crease along the flank. At the rear are sharp-looking tail-lights and an integrated exhaust system. The hatchback tailgate - not confirmed for production - points to a new, practical evolution of the CLK coupé, and opens with the simple press of a keyfob-mounted button.

Inside, the cabin takes inspiration from the S-Class limousine. It's fitted with that car's COMAND multimedia control set-up, as well as safety kit such asnight vision cameras and collision avoidance systems.The strict four-seateralso gets a generous boot, lined with wood and chrome. Mercedes says the radical shape was influenced by the Volvo P1800, as well as limited-edition Aston Martin shooting brakes of the Seventies and Eighties.

To get behind the wheel, drivers first need to press one of the flush-fitting door handles on the side of the car. The lever rises out of the bodywork, allowing you to grip and pull it. The door opens smoothloy, and its wide apperture means climbing in is easy.

Turn the ignition key, and the 2.2-litre Bluetec turbodiesel engine fires into life. It delivers 201bhp and more than 500Nm of torque, and provides strong in-gear performance.

The unit complies with the toughest emissions legislation, and will be offered in the new CLK and E-Class model line-ups from next year. The cabin is ergonomically superb,with a comfortable driving position. What's more, the wide body and tall roofline ensure there's plenty of head and elbow space, while each of the four occupants gets lots of legroom and a great view of the road ahead.

On the move, the engine is refined yet responsive, and the seven-speed automatic transmission gives smooth and swift gearchanges. Standard air-suspension delivers a smooth ride, even though the model has enormous alloys.

The brakes felt reassuring this isunusual in our experience of driving such prototypes, and an indication of exactly how well developed the Fascination is.

For production, Mercedes promises this well rounded driving experience will be backed up bythe very latest safety technology. As well as offering a full complement of driver and passenger airbags, the car will be fitted with a feature called Attention Assistant. This promises to wake the driver upif it senses they have fallen asleep.

New traction control and an updated, three-dimensional navigation package are also included while some of this technology is still under development, it's incredibly promising, and gives an exciting glimpse of the future. No wonder bosseschose to call this prototype the Fascination...