Do you remember Mercedes’ first-ever CLE, aka the successor to the old two-door versions of the C- and E-Class? Well, this model is about to be refreshed, with the facelifted iteration making its spy debut recently. Our spy photographers nabbed the Coupe while it was being driven in the open in Germany, and truth be told, it would have probably been ignored if it weren’t for the camouflage wrapped around its front fascia. But hey, the vinyl stickers make it stand out like a sore thumb, so the prototype was immortalized in a premiere.
NEW Mercedes-Benz CLE // SPY PHOTOS
Do you remember Mercedes’ first-ever CLE, aka the successor to the old two-door versions of the C- and E-Class? Well, this model is about to be refreshed, with the facelifted iteration making its spy debut recently.
Our spy photographers nabbed the Coupe while it was being driven in the open in Germany, and truth be told, it would have probably been ignored if it weren’t for the camouflage wrapped around its front fascia. But hey, the vinyl stickers make it stand out like a sore thumb, so the prototype was immortalized in a premiere.
Spotting the visual differences between the upcoming 2027 (unless it’s a 2028) Mercedes CLE Coupe and the outgoing 2026 iteration is quite easy, especially at the front, where the new model will be easily differentiated due to its star-studded headlights. The grille will likely be tweaked, and the front bumper appears to be new, so we expect it to feature redesigned air intakes and trim.
Don’t let the scooped tester trick you into thinking that the back end will carry on with no visual modifications, as it was still an early pre-production prototype. Thus, even if the car’s rear looks identical to the current Mercedes-Benz CLE, it will get a set of new taillights, likely with the embedded star design, as well as a new bumper and diffuser combo, and maybe new trim for the tailpipes.
Given that the Mercedes CLE entered production a little over two years ago, the interior is anything but old. Thus, we wouldn’t look for any major upgrades here, if we were you, as the three-pointed star brand might limit them to new software for the two screens, the portrait-oriented infotainment display, and the tablet-like digital cluster. The steering wheel might also be new, and the company could refresh the ADAS gear.
We do not know whether the powertrain family will be updated, yet in all likelihood, we believe that the facelifted Mercedes CLE will be offered in the same configurations. In the States, the lineup comprises the CLE 300 4Matic, CLE 450 4Matic, and AMG CLE 53. These offer 255 hp, 375 hp, and 443 hp, respectively. Pricing for the entry-level model starts at $59,550. The mid-range variant comes from $69,000, and the range-topper from the Affalterbach sub-brand kicks off at $76,300.
These are all manufacturer’s suggested retail prices, and besides the Coupe, Mercedes also offers the CLE as a Cabriolet, in the exact same specifications as its fixed-roof sibling. Pricing for the open-top versions of the CLE 300 4Matic, CLE 450 4Matic, and AMG CLE 53 start at $68,050, $77,400, and $84,600, respectively. The facelifted iteration will likely be a bit more expensive than the outgoing CLE when it comes out of hiding, presumably for the 2027 or maybe the 2028 model year.
