How does the idea of a four–door coupé appeal to you? Mercedes sold 170,000 examples of the outgoing CLS, and Audi's recently launched A7 Sportback can only have been given the green light for production after intensive market research.

"We want those extra doors! And the greater rear headroom such an arrangement allows!" the well–heeled prospective buyers must have pleaded, over coffee and biscuits in discreet modern office locations worldwide.

The trouble is, once you start addressing the early criticisms of the original bendy CLS (pokey in the back, bit of a fiddle to get into, front and rear), you're back where you started: a four–door saloon with a premier badge on the bonnet. Take a look at the Jaguar XF, or BMW's all–new 5 Series — there's not a lot wrong with them.

I've yet to be convinced — although the main benefit I can see is opening a shorter–than–normal door in a crowded car park. I don't lie awake at night attempting to reconcile my inner 'sportiness' (a 'Ctrl + SP' shortcut on Mercedes PR department computer keyboards) with the practicalities of family life.

Steve Wakefield Managing Editor sw@classicdriver.com

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