2024 Mercedes-AMG CLE 63 First Looks & Power

As of last week, Mercedes has a new car in its lineup: the CLE. Offered in a two-door body style and with a fixed roof over the cockpit, it is the direct replacement of the old coupe variants of the C-Class and E-Class and will be joined next year by the convertible. The Mercedes-AMG CLE range is also bound to show its more aggressive face in 2024.
 

Comprising two models in all likelihood, the 55 and 63, unless the Affalterbach brand decides to up the ante with an even punchier variant, they will set themselves apart from the normal Benz derivatives by featuring sportier looks inside and out. Look for chassis enhancements with stiffer suspension setups, lower ground clearance, uprated brakes, and much power.
 
Sportier Design at a Glance Inside and Out Plus the Accompanying Tech
The Mercedes-Benz CLE is already very aggressive looking, with muscular lines on the sides and the hood, large intakes in the front bumper, and an aggressive diffuser with incorporated tailpipe trim. However, the top-of-the-line Mercedes-AMG CLE 63 will look even sportier. One of the defining traits will be the Panamericana grille. Featuring vertical slats, this part will join the bigger front and rear bumpers and fatter side skirts. The lighting units at both ends will be the same, and it will get a slightly bigger trunk lid spoiler. The four exhaust tips will be another highlight of the car and a great way to recognize it from the back.
 
Save for a few sporty elements, the interior will be identical to that of the Benz, which, in turn, is very similar to the latest-gen C-Class. You get a two-layer dashboard panel with a large portrait-oriented screen below the central air vents, measuring 11.9 inches, a 12.9-inch digital instrument cluster with a tablet-like styling, and a big center console. AMG touches will decorate the steering wheel and seats, and the front ones will feature additional side bolstering to keep the driver and passenger secured during the occasional cornering fest.
 
Look for a dedicated driving mode, a launch control feature, and AMG-branded loading screens, joined by exclusive submenus, on the two displays. The trim and upholstery will also be exclusive to this model. Tech-wise, you’ll be able to play Angry Birds and binge some TikTok clips on the CLE 63, too, which will also sport 5G connectivity. Massaging seats with heating and ventilation up front, aggressive ambient lighting turning it into a club on wheels at night, and a premium sound system for audiophiles will also be included.
 

Power, Lots of It – Plus the Necessary Enhancements To Back It Up
Just like the latest C-Class, E-Class, and S-Class, the Mercedes CLE rides on the second-generation MRA 2 platform. This gives it access to a whole bunch of powertrains, with the current family consisting of the usual gasoline and diesel units, with four and six cylinders, all of which sport the mild-hybrid tech. Plug-in hybrid assemblies will arrive at a later date. But we’re here to talk about the CLE 63 and the mill that powers it, and so far, most hints point to the C 63’s assembly.
 
You do remember what powers the BMW M3 Sedan rival from Affalterbach, don’t you? A 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with as many exhaust tips. It’s assisted by electricity, kicking out 670 hp (680 ps/500 kW) and 752 lb-ft (1,020 Nm) of torque. It will run out of breath at 174 mph (280 kph), dealing with the 0-62 mph (0-100 kph) sprint in 3.4 seconds. If it gets this lump in this exact same configuration, which also includes a nine-speed auto ‘box and the 4Matic+ all-wheel drive system, then the CLE 63 should be similarly fast.
 
A second scenario, and an unlikely one, we believe, speaks about the Mercedes-AMG CLE 63 featuring a larger unit. More specifically, it is said to get the same 3.0-liter six-pot as the next E 63, also with electric assistance. Between us, neither can truly replace the sonorous bi-turbo V8, but they’re necessary assets to cut carbon dioxide emissions. Our money would be on the electrified four-banger found on the new C 63 S E Performance, but who knows, we could be wrong. After all, the three-pointed star marque’s performance subdivision hasn’t announced any details about the powertrain of the CLE 63 yet.
 
Mercedes-AMG’s engineers will re-tune the chassis to improve the car’s cornering ability. This will come at the expense of comfort, as it should be stiffer than the Benz. It will also sit a bit closer to the asphalt and will have larger brakes backing up each wheel, with more performance-oriented proposals likely being offered as options. The steering might be tweaked to become sharper, and we’d look for some fake engine noise, too.
 
2024 Unveiling for the 2025 Mercedes-AMG CLE 63 (Should We Add an S E Performance Here, Too?)
Even though the CLE family replaces the C- and E-Class Coupe and Convertible, it does not rival both the BMW 4 Series and the 8 Series, as it is more of a rival to the former than the latter. The same will apply to the Mercedes-AMG CLE 63, which will challenge the likes of the BMW M4 Coupe and Convertible, as well as the Audi RS 5. When will it do that? Sometime next year, probably being a 2025 model when it goes on sale in the New World – and there’s no indication that it won’t do that. So, are you hyped about it?