See Photos of the Mercedes-Benz CLA Shooting Brake

The Mercedes-Benz CLA is an irrational vehicle. A compact four-door "coupe" version of the A-class with an extremely swooping roofline, it's designed for those that put form first and function second. The waters were muddied even further when the Shooting Brake version of the previous-gen CLA was released in Europe.

Basically a CLA wagon with a still-rakish roofline, the Shooting Brake offered more cargo space and headroom, but it was still a questionably practical choice when pitted against the A-class hatchback. But if practicality is your concern, again-the CLA isn't for you.

To most of us, the Shooting Brake was actually much better looking than the regular CLA, which made it even more disappointing that it never came here.

Now, the second generation of the CLA Shooting Brake has been revealed, and it's even better looking than before.

The new Shooting Brake's roofline has a bit more curve to it, and the rear end is a lot smoother.

The new CLA in general is a whole lot sleeker than the old generation, with Mercedes keeping lines and creases to a minimum. When we talked to Daimler design chief Gorden Wagener about the design of the regular CLA at its reveal in January, we asked about the new-gen Shooting Brake, and he described it as being "a very designer's car, [one that] offers a lot of space even if it doesn't look like it would."

The Shooting Brake's extended length and longer roof help to mask its front-drive proportions, and without a stubby trunk-which is admittedly much better resolved on the new gen-the wagon looks even sportier.

Most importantly, the Shooting Brake's inherent silliness is the biggest part of its appeal. A car like this has no real reason to exist, and that makes us glad that it does.

Compared to the old Shooting Brake, the new car is slightly longer and wider but a tad shorter in height. Almost all interior dimensions have been marginally increased, too, with the cargo area improving by about one cubic foot.

The hatch opening itself has been made a lot larger to aid with loading and unloading. Compared to the A-class hatchback, the Shooting Brake does have a bit more cargo space, but it's more cramped when it comes to head- and shoulder-room.

The rest of the interior is the same as the normal CLA, with the new MBUX infotainment system dominating the futuristic dashboard.

When it comes to all the mechanicals, too, the Shooting Brake is identical to the standard CLA.

Europe will get a range of gas and diesel engines and either front- or all-wheel drive, with the top-of-the-line CLA250 using a 221-hp turbocharged inline-four (the same powertrain found in the U.S.-bound regular CLA).

Multiple AMG versions are inevitable, with the range-topping CLA45 S rumored to get upwards of 415 horsepower and an advanced all-wheel-drive system with a rear-drive drift mode.

If, like us, you were saddened that the previous CLA Shooting Brake never came to the United States, prepare to stay sad. Mercedes doesn't even give us the totally normal A-class hatchback-although it's available in Canada-so there is essentially no hope for the new Shooting Brake in the States.

That's too bad, as "compromised" design-forward cars remain a rarity, and there really is no other car like the Shooting Brake on the market, even in countries where it is actually sold.