It’s hardly a secret that the A- and B-Class hatchbacks are no great success for Mercedes-Benz. But M-B is working hard to make the next generation of both, based on common front-drive architecture, seriously competitive. But a shooting brake?

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The retro body style is making a comeback, as we saw with Mercedes’ own Shooting Break concept and the new Ferrari Four, and we could soon see it on a baby Benz. Along with a potential convertible, a shooting brake is one the additional configurations reportedly being considered for the range. Others in the pipeline include hatchbacks (like the existing models), a CLS-style coupe (with four doors or two) and an SUV to slot below the GLK and rival the BMW X1.

Beyond its own applications, Mercedes-Benz is also reportedly discussing the potential for industrial ally Renault-Nissan to use the Mercedes Front-wheel-drive Architecture (MFA) for an entry-level Infiniti.