Mercedes-Benz is simplifying. Cleansing out the storage. Throwing out what doesn’t spark pleasure. It’s all a part of a plan to pare the storied model’s lineup all the way down to a extra manageable measurement, and it’s going to reportedly imply the top of many coupes and wagons over the approaching years. However they could not disappear fully.
Some will simply get replaced with extra exact creations.
Enter the 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE coupe and convertible. Debuting this week, Mercedes says the automobile “makes use of the conceptual and technical improvements of the C-Class and E-Class.” That’s a diplomatic method of claiming it replaces the 2-door variations of each strains, although they’ll proceed individually as 4-doors.
Changing Small and Giant With Medium
It slots proper between them, Goldilocks-style. Mercedes even despatched journalists a useful chart of measurements offering that it’s just a bit larger than the outdated C-Class coupe and a little bit smaller than the outdated E-Class coupe in most measurements.
That raises the essential query — which is able to it monitor extra intently in worth? The corporate has provided no clues.
The 2023 C-Class Coupe begins at $49,550, whereas the 2023 E-Class Coupe begins at $69,750. So, if the thread-the-needle logic of the measurements applies to the sticker, we count on the CLE to start out round $59,650.
Natural Look Exterior
It retains these vehicles’ lengthy hood/quick trunk proportions however interprets them by means of the lens of present Mercedes design. Which means a extra natural look than Benz consumers have seen in recent times. The brand new coupe wears a bulging hood with elevated strakes and creases that emerge and fade into rounded fender strains.
The look is at all times dangerous. It threatens to look both barely melted or like a previous-generation Mercedes overinflated. Nevertheless it’s sufficiently subtle to work nicely in these proportions.
Gloss and Leather-based Inside
The cabin borrows closely from the present C-Class. That’s a sensible transfer, because it has one of the vital elegant interiors on the street. The identical rounded-square idea evokes the distinguished air vents. A 12.3-inch driver’s instrument show and 11.9-inch central touchscreen stand out from a shiny dashboard, primarily freed from buttons.
The dearth of knobs for quantity and temperature is a bit regarding. We’ll should drive it to find out whether or not this can be a Tesla-style cabin plan that leaves the driving force paging by means of touchscreen menus for even the only capabilities. Mercedes says it’s powered by the newest MBUX infotainment interface, which helps voice instructions. However the early press releases don’t inform if it helps the ChatGPT-enabled conversations-with-your-car the corporate is testing in some fashions.
A 17-speaker Burmester sound system is commonplace gear. Mercedes says it “permits particular person devices or voices to be positioned across the listening space.”
255 or 375 Horsepower
The coupe shall be provided in two trim ranges.
The CLE 300 makes use of a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine that produces 255 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. The CLE 450 will get a turbocharged 3.0-liter straight-6 good for 375 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. Each ship energy to all 4 wheels by means of a 9-speed automated transmission.
Mercedes has given particulars solely on the coupe mannequin however guarantees {that a} “CLE Cabriolet will comply with for open-air connoisseurs.”
