The AMG brand has quite the incubation story; it started out as a bit of a skunkworks creating wild engine and chassis tunes for Mercedes models, became an official in-house tuner for Mercedes and now has a model portfolio unto itself. They still spend time tuning Benzes, though, and is now expanding their portfolio with the 2024 Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 Coupe. Combining the thrill of the newly-remodeled AMG-GT Coupé and the AMG-GT 4-door Coupe, the CLE is roughly the size of the C-Class but according to the manufacturer, has similar interior space to the larger E-Class.
Styling-wise, the CLE’s AMG-ness, if you will, is defined by a long, muscular hood with dual power domes, enlarged grille with vertical chrome bars, and sloping forward section to create a “shark nose” effect. The way the lower fascia is kicked up at either corner, meanwhile, gives the impression that said shark is baring its teeth.
The rear fascia is punctuated by quad-outlet tailpipes and rear diffuser, plus functional extractor ducts on either side of the bumper. The taillight lenses get bandit-like dark red bezels as well as a matching connecting insert and while it looks like a hatchback, it actually gets a traditional trunk. Add standard 19-inch wheels with an aggressive multi-spoke design as well as optional 20” items, and you have an aggressive coupe that looks ready to pounce. It’s also got a wider track both front and rear over the standard CLE and has the fender flares to accommodate it.
Inside, there’s the latest version of Mercedes’ MBUX infotainment complete with a 12.3” gauge display and 11.9” central display plus 64-colour ambient lighting, and of course you have a flat-bottom wheel with the performance and chassis controls mounted at the 4- and 7-o’clock positions.
Speaking of performance: the CLE 53 gets a 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged engine good for 413 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque. That’s thanks in part to the electronic 48V starter generator that acts as a supercharger and provides an additional 23 hp and 151 lb-ft. Power is transferred to all four wheels via a nine-speed automatic transmission, and of course torque can be distributed to whichever wheel is best suited for the task, depending on the driving situation. Rear-axle steering is also standard, as is AMG Ride Control suspension.
The 2024 Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 4matic will arrive in Canadian dealers in the second half of 2024; pricing will be announced closer to that date.