With the launch of the new E-Class All-Terrain, Mercedes has entered the increasingly competitive market for ruggedized station wagons. Our friend Remco Meulendijk of RM CarDesign figures it will only be a matter of time before the German automaker applies a similar treatment to the small C-Class wagon, giving us this idea of what it could look like.

Should Daimler give it the green light, the C-Class All-Terrain would go up against the likes of the Audi A3 Allroad and Volvo Cross Country in a burgeoning market segment. Further down-market Subaru embraces the approach with its Legacy-based Outback and Impreza-based Crosstrek, Volkswagen challenges with the Alltrack versions of its Golf and Passat, and Seat has gotten into the game with its Leon X-Perience.

We’d expect any potential C-Class All-Terrain to take a similar approach, with increased ride height, 4Matic all-wheel drive, lower body cladding, and other trim enhancements to make it (look) more suitable towards driving on the old dusty trail.

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