The Mercedes-Benz CLE-Class will replace the C- and E-Class coupes in the brand’s lineup, and there will also be a convertible variant. The AMG 63 version is on display in this gallery. It’s the first time we’ve seen the upcoming range-topper as a hard top.
While the coupe sported a camouflage wrap over most of the body, some elements of the style were visible in part. For example, the front fascia has three large openings, and there is a wide grille over this area. Mercedes used this eggcrate design to hide the Panamericana design on its development vehicles. The headlights place the running lights above the headlights. There are also smaller signatures.
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From the side, you can see the CLE’s long hood and short rear deck. Despite being a coupe, the proportions suggest that the rear seats may not be too cramped due to the long wheelbase. A spoiler is attached to the rear deck.
This car runs on mismatched wheels. The one in front has five pairs of spokes that taper inward at the edges. At the rear, there are also five pairs of spokes, but these remain aligned from the hub to the rim. The tires are Michelin Pilot Sports.
At the rear, the CLE has a traditional trunk. The taillights feature a curved element at the bottom. The door that covers the charging port for this model’s plug-in-hybrid powertrain is on the passenger side of the bumper. Fourth, the trapezoidal exhaust pipe is another hint that this is an AMG variant.
A recent glance into the cabin shows there’s a digital instrument cluster, and the portrait-oriented infotainment screen sits in a corner in the center stack.
The CLE 63 may share a powertrain with the recently launched C63 SE Performance. If that’s the case, then the coupe will have a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with an electrically assisted turbo and a separate electric drive motor. In total, this setup will produce 671 horsepower (500 kilowatts) and 752 pound-feet (1,020 Newton-meters) of torque.
Mercedes tuned this system for power, not efficiency. The back end of the 6.1 kilowatt-hour batter provides only about 13 kilometers of electric driving distance alone.
The CLE-Class coupe may debut before the end of the year. Even if not, we expect sales to start in 2023.
