What's all this about?
Barely five minutes have elapsed since we drove the Mercedes-Benz version of the CLE on an international event. And now we have confirmation of the as-sure-as-the-sun-comes-up-in-the-morning AMG variant. It's called the CLE 53 4Matic+.
And what engine does it have? Please, please, please say there's a V8...
Ah, you're alluding to the poor old C 63 switching to a four-cylinder plug-in hybrid drivetrain, aren't you? Well, we have good news and bad news. The bad is that the CLE 53 still doesn't have a V8. The good is that it's a straight-six instead, augmented with 'two' turbochargers: one a good, old-fashioned snail, the other an electric compressor. That's powered by a 48-volt system, which makes the CLE 53 a mild hybrid. But a hybrid with peak outputs of 449hp and 600Nm, plus 23hp and 205Nm.
Hold on, wait; what?
The integrated starter-generator in the CLE 53 is a 17kW (23hp) motor with up to 205Nm. Now, Mercedes-AMG says these are additive numbers to the peak outputs of the CLE's six-pot ICE, but nowhere does it say the 53 has 472hp and 805Nm of torque overall. Instead, it confirms the petrol motor nominally delivers 560Nm, rising to its 600Nm peak during a 12-second overboost phase. No matter, though, as the CLE 53 can hit 62mph from rest in 4.2 seconds and go on to a 155mph limited top speed. Opt for the AMG Driver's Package and that latter number rises to 168mph.
OK, so the mild-hybrid tech makes it fast. But is it economical?
Relatively speaking, yes it is for a 449hp six-cylinder turbo petrol coupe. Expect anything from 29.1- to 30.4mpg on the combined WLTP cycle, with CO2 of 212-220g/km.
What else defines the CLE 53?
It gets a series of chassis and drivetrain enhancements to make it handle well and fun to drive. The AMG CLE 53 is fitted with 4Matic+ as standard, an all-wheel-drive system that can decouple the front axle to save fuel if necessary. An optional AMG Dynamic Plus Package also includes a 'Drift Mode', which presumably sees the 4Matic coaxed into slinging all the torque at the back axle to perform lurid, smoky slides in the 53. The transmission is an AMG Speedshift nine-speed twin-clutcher, while Affalterbach's high-performance braking system incorporates 370x36mm front and 360x26mm rear discs, clamped by four-pot callipers at the nose and single-piston sliding jobs at the back. Standard-fit rear-axle steering gives the CLE added nimbleness, while there are three levels of damping to choose from on the AMG Ride Control suspension.
Visually, it's the usual AMG tropes. Great, blistered arches hide wider tracks front and rear (58- and 75mm respectively), while the bonnet is ridged by a pair of powerdomes. The 'Panamericana' grille, roughly A-shaped, is joined by what AMG refers to as the 'A-wing' lower front intake array, so that's a lot of As, isn't it? At the back is a set of quad exhausts, a discreet but tasty-looking lip spoiler on the CLE's boot, and a socking great diffuser. LED lights are standard on the AMG CLE, with the option to upgrade the headlamps to 'Digital Light' intelligent matrix-dipping units.
As standard, the CLE 53 runs on 19-inch alloys, with 20s an option, and various aesthetic packages - called AMG Night, AMG Carbon and AMG Optics - are available, with the last of these three adding aero flics to the front and rear bumpers, a bigger spoiler on the bootlid, and a diffuser board between the tailpipes.
Inside, it's a 2+2 cabin with twin digital displays up front, a 12.3-inch unit ahead of the driver and an 11.9-inch display for the central infotainment. Much use of Artico man-made leather, Microcut black microfibre and red detailing (including for the stitching and seatbelts) helps lift a cabin already enhanced with bucket seats and a two-spoke, flat-bottomed AMG multifunction sports steering wheel. Optional upgrades in here amount pretty much to a choice of two types of leather, if you want real cow hide in your Mercedes CLE's interior.
Cool, sounds nice. And how much will all this cost?
No idea as yet, but we'd be mighty surprised if the Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 4Matic+ doesn't eclipse the price of the current top model of the regular range, which is the CLE 450 Premier Edition at £72,765. We'll bring you full details, as and when they're confirmed.
Matt Robinson - 6 Dec 2023
