First look inside all-new Mercedes EV with a magic roof and surprising range

Mercedes will be hoping its latest electric car will cause a buzz when it arrives on UK roads early next year. The all-new CLA Shooting Brake not only offers bags of space for the family, pets and luggage but also some pretty mighty electric range. In fact, the German car firm reckons it will keep on going for well over 450 miles before owners will need to find a plug. That's as good as most petrol-powered vehicles and could make going electric seem far more appealing.

Even when things run flat, there will be the option to add around 190 miles in just 10 minutes. That means a quick coffee break could offer enough charge to travel from London to Manchester. What makes that range more impressive is that the Shooting Brake is not a small car. In fact, Mercedes has made sure there's enough space for a weekend break with this EV getting a huge 455 litre boot and even a decent-sized 'frunk' under the bonnet.

This car isn't just about being practical; it also has another surprising trick up its sleeve. Hop inside, and passengers will be treated to a huge panoramic glass roof that offers stunning views of the world outside.

That may sound like nothing new - we've seen massive glass roofs before - but what makes things seem more futuristic is the ability to turn the glass from clear to frosted and even glow with an illuminated starry sky.

A mesmerising 158 stars are integrated into this glass surface, and they can even change colour via ambient lighting.

Those shining lights can also be found on the outside, with the CLA getting matching glowing stars on the front grille as well.

Like the recently announced CLA, the Shooting Brake is also pretty smart thanks to it featuring the latest Mercedes-Benz Operating System and full integration with Google, Microsoft and even ChatGPT.

That means you can chat to the car and get some pretty impressive answers.

A huge Superscreen spreads across the dash (you can have three as an optional extra) and offers access to apps such as Disney+ and Angry Birds. Even the sat nav now gets its data from Google Maps, which should help to cut down on journey times.

“The new CLA Shooting Brake is designed for those who appreciate the dynamism of a sporty vehicle but don’t want to compromise on space and practicality in everyday life," said Mathias Geisen, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Sales.

"It combines intelligent technology and efficiency to deliver a fresh, engaging driving experience. For our customers, this means more space for individuality, travelling and for their own personal lifestyle.”

There's no word on price just yet but watch this space. As a guide, the new standard CLA starts from just over £45,000.