Ah, Mercedes-AMG. The performance arm of the German automaker, that has, in recent years, forgotten how many doors a coupe is supposed to have. Blessed be thy car gods, that’s not the case with its latest effort. Yes, the Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 4MATIC Coupe rocks two doors and a mighty inline-six.
The inline-six is having a renaissance of late, particularly in the halls of Affalterbach. This new model boasts 449 horsepower from an upgraded version of Mercedes’ potent 3.0-liter donk. The new engine is denoted the M 256M, with revised components including the combustion chambers and piston rings. Its power figure is elevated courtesy of both a conventional exhaust-gas turbocharger as well as an additional electric compressor that feeds in yet more boost. With the electric compressor running near-continuously to provide boost at all times, the combined design meant the main turbo could be upsized for better peak performance.
You won’t be short on torque, either. The engine is capable of delivering 413 pound-feet of torque, with an overboost function that boosts that to 442 pound-feet for up to 12 seconds. Mercedes also saw fit to toss in a mild-hybrid system, with the integrated starter-generator capable of contributing 23 horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque for short boosts when required.
The engine is paired with the AMG Speedshift TCT 9G automatic transmission. The coupe gets AMG’s 4MATIC+ all-wheel-drive system, which should prove handy for putting all that power down to the road. Notably, it’s set up so that in situations where front axle drive isn’t necessary, the front wheels can be entirely uncoupled from the drivetrain to improve efficiency. In sport modes, the system is set up for more of a rear bias, while in drift mode, it’s set up for real-wheel-drive exclusively. Mercedes-AMG claims fuel economy on the WLTP combined cycle to be on the order of 24-25 mpg. That’s not crazy good, but hey, who’s complaining with all that power on tap?
Rear steering is also standard on this model. It’s an aid both at low-speeds, such as parking, and at higher-speeds to improve handling. The rear axle offers up to 2.5 degrees of steering angle, with the rears turning the opposite direction to the front wheels at speeds under 60 mph to effectively shorten the wheel base and cut the turning circle. Above 60 mph, the wheels turn parallel to the fronts to aid stability.
Design-wise, it’s a modern AMG through and through. It’s got a bulky, chonky kind of aggression to it, like one of those veiny, muscular English bulldogs. That’s by virtue of its pumped-up stature, which is a full 2.2 inches wider at the front and 2.9 inches wider at the rear, compared to the standard Mercedes-Benz model. Don’t forget, cars have to be angry now, and the typical “Shark Nose” design fits the bill perfectly. The headlights are thusly narrowed in threatening suspicion, while the grille and vents give the vague impression of bared teeth. There’s a general sense of visual heft to the car; it’s more of a heavyweight boxer than a lithe martial artist.
Inside, you get a sleek and sporty interior and a steering wheel covered in buttons, because that’s the trend these days. The infotainment screen is neatly tilted back and blends nicely into the center console for a sleek look. Above, you get that neat triple air vent setup in the center of the dash which Mercedes-Benz has made its own in recent years. Seats are trimmed in man-made leather and black microfiber, with red contrast stitching because this is a fast car and that’s the appropriate aesthetic shorthand to indicate as such.
It’s nice to know that Mercedes-AMG hasn’t forgotten how to build a proper coupe. It’s got two doors, a nice long engine in the front with plenty of power, and a look that says “I’m too classy to punch you, but it’d be a humdinger if I did.” If you want a quick two-door sled that looks mildly intimidating for your golf trips, consider the Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 4MATIC+ Coupe. It ought to do the job nicely.
Image credits: Mercedes-AMG
I like the looks of the car, with the exception of the front view – it looks like it should be drooling uncontrollably, as per a Newfoundland or St. Bernard. Interior is really nice although there’s too much screen and not enough buttons and knobs. Mechanically, it sounds very complex and likely expensive to maintain. Not my cup of tea at all, but I guess someone’s going to be willing to pay the price.
As a former AMG owner, it’s nice to see they’re finally ‘coming down’ and making the right changes for those consumers at this price point after spending so much time kitting out the S and SL classes.
It’s a nice looking car and if it was the early 2000s, it would have been a great success. Though even back then, I wouldn’t have bought one of these.
And these days, the fact is that ICE cars like this are yesterday’s news.
They’ll sell some of these… but I predict the volumes will be relatively small.
I’m a Mercedes-Benz owner – and I hate it.
Not because it’s a coupe or because it’s an inline 6.
But because proper Mercedes-Benz coupes are pillarless.
Because it’s a C Class that’s being priced and presented as an E-Coupe.
Because it’s covered with faux vents and slits – that are just like the faux vents and slits that have been on every Mercedes-Benz AMG-themed car for the past 14+ years.
Because it’s AWD – and nobody getting a coupe or convertible needs the weight and complexity of AWD.
Because this is just another angry black car.
Ooooh! auto-locking front hubs like a 1973 Chevy pickup!
God, it’s fugly.
I love those wheels.
Not a fan of all cars being angry, but this should probably be good at being angry.
I totally understand why they aren’t offering a manual, because the guys buying this to look cool at the golf course don’t to row their own. and if you do want to, just get a 911, it’ll be better at that anyway.
Tell Merc that Matte paint is about 10 years out of vogue.
It’s on point for the demographic target…
If it came with a free pair of white New Balance sneakers, it’d sell like crazy!
I hate matte paint, but otherwise, this thing is awesome, and I wish I had the space in my life (or budget) for a second car like this
Quick impressions:
*Matte black murdered out look is way lame, it looks like it got stuck in a time warp from 2009.
*Those wheels! Deep dish, and kind of evoke that 80’s turbine vibe? Love it.
*Turbo mild-hybrid 3.0 I6 is a performance future I can get behind. Turbo+ e-compressor to eliminate boost lag…
*I, too, am a fan of a legit 2-door coupe. I’m not sure if I’m a fan of the sloped back end, but otherwise it cuts a handsome silhouette.
It gives me vibes that the AMG engineers wanted to build themselves a Mustang or Camaro although they weren’t allowed to give it a V8.
You say that like it’s a bad thing! I love the idea of a luxury pony car. The new M2 gives off similar energy.
Definitely not a bad thing I like this too except for the predicted price.
Same. I could potentially make 60kish work if I really wanted to but 70-80 is where I’d tap out. There’s just no need to have that much tied up in a car at our income level.
I like it, does it come with shiny paint? Matte paint is a bit “2006” in the UK.
Who am I kidding, by the time these have depreciated to my level they’ll be a maintenance nightmare.
“…to effectively shorten the wheel base and cut the turning circle.” I know what you mean, but there is something about the phrasing. It gives the effect as though the wheelbase was shorter, or that it had more front steering lock (which it would have if the cowards hadn’t fitted driveshafts to the front wheels) but it doesn’t effectively make the wheelbase any different.
I’m quite pleased that a new low-slung, mean-looking muscular coupe has entered this world. And now Mercedes and Mazda both with straight 6s in their newest offerings, I’d say there is still hope for the next few years, contrary to the doom-sayers.
In the words of Bruce, that one shark from finding Nemo, “Ohh, that’s nice.”
Paint by Krylon. At least the seatbelts have some color. And all that so it can look perpetually filthy. Add some scratches and it might as well be up on blocks in front of a trailer, which is probably its fate in 15 years. Hate the blended tail lights on their own and they don’t seem to fit with all the other overly aggro details. Usually, I like the Benz coupes, but this doesn’t do it for me at all. I like the idea of a straight 6.
“Don’t forget, cars have to be angry now”
Not really. I mean they don’t have to have the idiot grin of Mazda’s Nagare or Lexus’s Predator face or the naked mole rat look of BMWs but cars don’t HAVE to look angry.
“NO TALK ME
CAR ANGY”
-Today’s designers
It’s nice and all but it is still a fucking automatic.
shame they didn’t use the weird auto with the wet clutch instead of the torque converter because I could have written a paragraph about it
I’ve wondered if eventually halo cars like this will have a special, manual transmission-only version.
Manufacturers will know they’ll sell only a handful of course, so they’ll make a slightly lesser but still top of the line version with an auto to sell to most people, but there will be a manual one at the very top, for the hardcore bragging rights.
Kind of like the
non-rhoticthe Civic is the rhotic and non-rhotic one, dumbass self new Integra?Trying to figure out what this actually is. An E300 AMG? E30 AMG? Is it even E-class sized??? HELP
If any automakers read this- The DRL strip looks SO much classier BELOW the headlights. That’s why they were there when they first came out. This looks like it’s trying to emulate the lighting of a Cherokee (crossover).
they say it’s a bit C and a bit E size wise
Ok I guess I can’t complain too much about the letters in the name, but they really need to stop this gross number inflation before we end up with like a CLE 73000 AMG
Needs to be a CLE 300 with some cool-ass Kompressor equivalent badge.
Side note: I really like that the rear bumper actually sticks out past the trunk lid. Looks like it’s designed to actually take a hit and be repairable.
I completely agree about the bumper actually looking like it is there for low speed protection of the metalwork. I’m tired of seeing cars that look like Hank Hill.
They just took the back and angled it but at least it does protrude.
Oh, yeah. Bloody hell. I’m sweating here. Roasting. Boiling. Baking. Sweltering. It’s like a sauna. Furnace. You can fry an egg on my stomach. Ohh, who wouldn’t lap this up? It’s ridiculous. Tremendous. Fantastic. Fan-dabby-dozy-tastic
I’ve seen 4,500 lb curb weight estimate and that’s fucking ridiculously heavy, like almost exactly the same amount as the former S63 AMG coupe, which is an infinitely cooler car
That seems high? The C63 AMG 4 cylinder abomination with the PHEV set up is like 4700 IIRC and this won’t have any battery packs. I’d be pretty disappointed if it tips the scales at nearly as much.
I thought my T-bird was heavy, but it only weighs 4,385 lbs. I guess I can call it a sports car now?
No, GT yes
I am absolutely smitten. Like many here I’m a sucker for a good AMG. Even if their best days are likely behind them there’s just a certain appeal to them. They’re aggressive but not overstated. They’re not as nerfed with nannies and comfort focused as Audi S and RS models. They’re not necessarily as unhinged as the wildest M cars but I think they hit the sweet spot between luxury and performance.
They’re an if you know, you know type of deal…and I actually think blacked out like this is a good way to go because Mercedes’ design language lends itself to it well. Anyhoo, I was massively disappointed when the C Class AMGs went 4 cylinder only.
I can appreciate a good psychotic turbo 4 popper as much as anyone but in $60,000+ cars it just doesn’t sit right with me….not to mention that 200 horsepower per liter AMG mill is impressive but I can’t imagine it holding up long term. It’s just so high strung. The initial reviews of the AMG C43 and C63 have been almost universally bad.
The engine doesn’t sound good. It takes a while to build boost. The transmission is overkill in the C43 and takes so long to warm up that it’s pretty much rough and jerky for 30 minutes until it comes up to temperature…and it’s not even good on gas. So I’m once again wondering what the point is? IIRC in the C43 it gets 18 MPG city.
The fact that we’ve got a straight 6 in this tells me that Mercedes has realized the error of their ways…and since they’ve been implementing the assorted electric/hybrid tech for a while now I’d imagine it’s probably going to be quite well sorted soon. This thing should be a comfortable, relatively unassuming missile.
I’m into it. Really into it. I doubt I’ll be able to afford one new (I’m assuming this will probably start in the 70s or 80s) but a certified one coming off a lease in a few years? Hmmmmm. Something to consider for sure.
Those wheels are interesting. At first I wasn’t sure how much I liked them, then I looked at them a bit more and decided I liked them quite a bit. Overall, decent looking car, provided you can get it in a color other than matte black, matte white, or matte grey.
I’m a big fan of the wheels. Fifteen52 do something similar I think.
Oh cool. I’ll have to look those up. I’ve seen the Fifteen52 versions of the old-school MB “bundt cake” wheels and they look nice.
That’s a damn nice looking vehicle, and the straight-six is a nice touch.
I have a secret little love for a good AMG coupe. I’m not 100% on the exterior design, but it’s also not particularly bad. I like the interior and I’ll take a wheel covered in buttons over no buttons at all any day. The important part is it will probably feel comfy in there, since my ass has yet to meet a lil* AMG seat it didn’t like. I’ll probably be smiling the first time one of these things comes in and I’ll definitely be volunteering to do the monitor reset drive.
*I only like pocket size AMGs, big ridiculous SUVs are awful
My brother in Christ, you don’t need to hide your affection for AMG coupes here. You’re among friends.
Well, I am slightly notorious for being an Italian shitbox princess, so liking an AMG feels a bit naughty
Same weirdly flat, melty-lights rear end. Darn.
Yeah, I feel the same. Really not a nice design cue. It feels lazy.
I hate them as well.
Much too 1997 Ford Escort and Escort ZX2
It looks great. I’d love to see one in an actual color for those of us without a Batman fetish. Also, Benz interiors as of late are just… Oof. Is it weird that I find a base model Civic interior more visually appealing than this?
IMHO the SCREENS ON SCREENS ON SCREENS approach is the main thing that would have me hesitating about going with a current Benz. I actually think most of their lineup is downright attractive as far as exterior styling goes and as always they’ve got some interesting powertrains on offer…but I really don’t want to spend all my time in a car poking at a screen, especially in something like this that begs to be driven in an antisocial manner at all times.
I’ve casually been looking at GLBs for my wife since we’re going to need more space soon and they’re a really cool little package…not to mention I may be able to sneak the AMG GLB 35 past her (shhhhhh). But the Apple Store meets nouveau rich BSDM interiors are just meh.
It’s not even the screens for me. Screens are her to stay, so if I gotta poke one, it might as well be a big one.
I know that’s all carbon fiber and aluminum and all fancy stuff, but it just gives off shiny plastic vibes.