Continuing to play fast and loose with the definition of the word ‘coupe’, Mercedes-AMG has rolled out its CLE 53 4MATIC+ Coupe for the upcoming 2024 model year. At least this one has two doors and isn’t applied to a high-riding crossover.
Say what you will about Affalterbach’s etymology, this two-door one hell of a looker. Meant to replace both the C-Class coupe and E-Class two-door, this new tweener seeks to combine the C’s agility and sportiness with the interior space and elegance of the E. We’ll reserve judgement until actually climbing behind the wheel but this new approach makes sense; after all, there’s a decent argument to be made that the old C- and E-Class coupes appealed to roughly the same buyer. This way, there’s no internal cannibalization of sales.
This car gets the dash-to-axle ratio very right indeed, with a long hood featuring a brace of power domes leading back to a steeply raked windshield. Under the hood is an AMG-fettled turbocharge 3.0-liter inline-six cranking out 443 horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque, though the latter can stuff its pants with 12 seconds of overboost to whip out an extra 30 lb-ft of twist. The 48-volt integrated starter generator is said to provide support at lower engine speeds with 23 ponies and 151 torques, though those figures are not wantonly added to total output. Think of them as coloring in the powertrain’s white space at parking lot speeds. Power is by a nine-speed transmission and 4Matic+ all-wheel drive. The likes of a drift mode, active engine mounts, and the like are all optional.
Its interior takes cues from several other Mercedes models whilst incorporating a series of unique equipment and AMG-specific displays. Customers can select from a raft of upholstery choices, trim inlays, and colorways. Optional AMG seats have more pronounced bolsters and are likely to hold you tighter than a naughty co-ed. All manner of digital wizardry inhabits the gauge cluster, including a Supersport display familiar to anyone who’s sampled an AMG in recent years.
Typically AMG flared front and rear fenders add track width, making this thing manspread an extra 2.3 inches afore and 3.0 inches astern compared to the standard Mercedes-Benz CLE. Around back we find two-part LED taillamps with 3D-type light bodies along with a dark red connecting design element sure to excite the heckblende portion of our readership.
Look for this model on dealer lots in the second half of the 2024 calendar year.
[Images: Mercedes-AMG]
Become a TTAC insider. Get the latest news, features, TTAC takes, and everything else that gets to the truth about cars first by subscribing to our newsletter.
