(Thu 11 Sep 08)

Mercedes-Benz engineers have been experimenting with the idea of a new coupé, and the result is a concept car known as the CoupeFASCINATION which will be revealed to the public at next month's Paris Show.

The CoupeFASCINATION is a cross between a regular coupé and an estate car, and the emphasis is very much on luxury. That can be seen even in the luggage compartment, which has a wood floor with brushed aluminium protective rails. At the touch of a button, the centre section of the floor rises to form a smoked glass table, under which there's a humidor for storing cigars, and if you move that backwards it reveals a refrigerated drinks cabinet.

At heart, the CoupeFASCINATION is a development of the forthcoming E-Class Coupé, and it's powered by a 204bhp 2.2-litre turbo diesel engine which uses Bluetec and AdBlue technology to create the cleanest possible exhaust emissions.

There's no suggestion that the CoupeFASCINATION itself will ever go into production, but the way Mercedes is talking it could well be an indication of designs that might become available to the public in the next few years.

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