Spy shots and video of the 2021 Volkswagen Arteon Shooting Break.

Mercedes-Benz's lineup of Shooting Brake models proves that sometimes style trumps practicality. For example, cars like the CLA Shooting Brake and the former CLS Shooting Brake have four doors and a wide-opening hatch, but their steeply descending roofline reduces their cargo capacity compared to a conventional wagon.

Soon, Volkswagen will take on the segment with the Arteon Shooting Brake, a new prototype of which has just been spotted ahead of its world debut on June 24. The long roof will be presented alongside an updated version of the current Arteon sedan.

Shooting Brake is the traditional designation for a coupe with a rear hatch, and German automakers have recently been happy to call anything with a curved roof a coupe, so they are happy to add the shooting brake designation as well.

The Arteon Shooting Brake has a slightly longer wheelbase than the Arteon sedan and, naturally, a unique rear. The prototype also features an improved front end with fewer slats in the grille.

The Arteon may have just gone on sale in the U.S. in 2019, but it has been available in other regions since 2017 and is approaching the midpoint of its life cycle.

Also included in the update is the new Arteon R performance flagship, which will likely be available in both sedan and shooting brake body styles. This model is expected to feature all-wheel drive and a turbocharged V-6 engine that produces nearly 400 horsepower. The standard Arteon should continue to have front-wheel drive and four-cylinder power.

VW sees a market for the Shooting Brake in several markets, but sales in the U.S. are doubtful. After all, we are already talking about niche body styles for niche products. Blame it on trends, blame it on perception, but as most automakers say, Americans don't like wagons.

Stay tuned.