2023 Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 spied

Mercedes-Benz is gearing as much as substitute its two-door C-Class and E-Class coupe and convertible with a brand new mannequin that’s believed to launching beneath the CLE nameplate.

Set to additionally provide higher-performance Mercedes-AMG variants, the CLE will enable Mercedes-Benz to nonetheless subject a rival to the BMW 4 Sequence and M4 and the Audi A5, S5 and RS5.

We’ve beforehand seen quite a few Mercedes-Benz CLE coupe and convertible fashions, and most lately the range-topping AMG 63 plug-in hybrid variant, however this time our spy photographers captured what’s believed to be the tamer AMG 53.

This prototype remains to be coated in camouflage however seems to be production-ready, which factors towards a possible reveal subsequent 12 months.

It contains a set of rounded quad exhaust retailers – a design characteristic of tamer AMG fashions for years – as an alternative of the squared-off models which are on flagship AMG 63 fashions.

It’s unclear what is going to energy the Mercedes-AMG CLE, however a model of the SL 43 and C43‘s mild-hybrid turbo four-cylinder engine is predicted.

A growth of the engine that debuted within the AMG A45 S scorching hatch, the two.0-litre unit within the C43 pumps out 300kW of energy and 500Nm of torque.

The turbocharger remains to be pushed by the engine’s exhaust gases, however it may be electrically boosted by the 48V mild-hybrid system to release an extra 10kW when the driving force buries their proper roof.

It’s despatched to all 4 wheels by a nine-speed multi-clutch transmission. The 100km/h dash within the AMG C43 takes simply 4.6 seconds, and flat out you’ll be doing 265km/h.

It’s anticipated the Mercedes-Benz CLE can be based mostly on the C-Class’ MRA2 structure, which it additionally shares with the GLC and S-Class.

Earlier experiences have indicated Mercedes-Benz doesn’t wish to depart the luxurious coupe and convertible market, however is consolidating its choices. The newest S-Class, for instance, received’t be supplied in two-door guise, and the SLC has been axed.

Mercedes-Benz analysis and growth head, Marcus Schafer, lately advised Auto Categorical it successfully had three convertibles – the SLC, and the C-Class and E-Class Cabriolets – occupying part of the market that isn’t notably worthwhile.

He conceded, nevertheless, it’s essential for a luxurious automobile model to proceed to supply coupe and convertible fashions.

As Mercedes-Benz expands its vary of electrical automobiles (EVs) to incorporate fashions just like the EQE and EQS constructed on a devoted EV structure, it’s conscious its mannequin line-up can’t get too giant and unwieldy.

Merging the two-door C-Class and E-Class ranges is paying homage to the times of the CLK.

Bought for 2 generations from 1997 to 2010, the CLK used the C-Class’ platform however with E-Class styling cues, and was accessible with a spread of engines starting from four- to eight-cylinder configurations.

In 2017, Mercedes-Benz lastly returned a coupe and convertible to the E-Class line-up. These have been offered concurrently with the C-Class coupe and convertible.

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MORE: 2023 Mercedes-AMG CLE 63 spied
MORE: 2023 Mercedes-Benz CLE coupe spied