2024 Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 Coupe aims at BMW M3

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Mercedes-Benz’s new CLE Coupe gets the AMG treatment in the form of the 2024 Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 Coupe. And you’ll definitely see this one coming, thanks to its AMG-specific gaping maw; aggressive lower valance; and ready-to-pounce stance. The latter is no illusion. AMG swelled the wheel arches of the standard CLE to accommodate the 53’s wider track (58 mm at the front, and 76 mm at the rear). Standard are 19-inch wheels, with 20-inchers optional.

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The air extraction vents in the CLE 53 Coupe’s hood are functional, hinting at what lies below. The double-turbocharged 3.0L inline-six-cylinder engine is good for 443 horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque (443 lb-ft with 12 seconds of overboost) and it gets a 48-volt mild-hybrid system that supports the proceedings with 23 hp and 151 lb-ft of torque at lower speeds.

With standard AMG-tuned fully variable 4Matic all-wheel-drive, power goes to all four corners through a nine-speed AMG Speedshift TCT 9G transmission. Rear-wheel steering and adaptive damping are also standard. AMG claims the CLE 53 Coupe scoots to 100 km/h in 4.2 seconds.

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While I didn’t get to drive this new AMG, I did crawl all over the pictured matte-black specimen, here on 20-inch wheels, at a private preview in Granada, Spain. The interior is the expected high-quality effort with AMG trimmings, and here equipped with the optional and heavily bolstered AMG performance seats. Sitting behind the multi-function AMG steering wheel, I felt as snug as the proverbial bug-in-a-rug.

The two contoured rear seats are cozy, but sufficiently roomy for six-footers. So, yes, this coupe is a true four-seater — there is no middle spot for a third person in the back. The dash sports the familiar Benz 12.3-inch configurable gauge cluster and 11.9-inch central touchscreen, accessed by the latest generation MBUX system with AMG-specific displays and functions.

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Is the 2024 Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 Coupe gas-powered, hybrid, or EV?

The performance coupe is billed as a mild hybrid, with its 48-volt integrated starter-generator (ISG) living within the gearbox bell housing. It acts as electrical generator, recuperator, and starter motor, while also adding short-term power boosting. The Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 Coupe will not drive on electric power alone.

Why does it matter?

Granted, the high-performance, six-cylinder, four-seat, mid-size luxury coupe occupies a miniscule slice of the automotive pie, but the legacy German automakers all got ’em, and this is a hotly contested and prestigious little sandbox. The 2024 Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 Coupe is the new kid on the block, and it’s got something to prove.

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What are the 2024 Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 Coupe’s competitors?

Anyone in this game is gunning for the benchmark BMW M4 and M3, a car that has essentially ruled the roost since—well, forever. There’s also the smaller and equally desirable BMW M2 Coupe. The other major player is the aging Audi RS5 that in recent Competition guise has upped its game considerably. Someone might cross-shop the refreshed Ford Mustang, too.

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When will Canada get it?

We can expect the 2024 Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 Coupe to arrive sometime during the second half of 2024.

How much will the 2024 Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 Coupe cost?

Pricing will be announced closer to launch date. It’s fair to assume the 2024 Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 Coupe will cost more than the outgoing 2023 AMG C 43 Coupe, which currently starts around $70,000 (USD$51,500).

Should you buy one?

Sure. We haven’t driven the 2024 Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 Coupe yet, but AMG has an unassailable track record of fashioning fast, engaging vehicles that carry a unique and intoxicating blend of swagger and luxury. With its blistered fenders, this one certainly looks the part.