Sharpening up its product portfolio & redefining our local performance coupé market, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has now debuted the all-new Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 4MATIC+ Coupé. With this model having replaced both the C-Class & E-Class Coupes in 2023, it seamlessly blends the smaller coupe’s dynamic agility with the elegantly scaled presence of its larger sibling; making for a true ‘best of both worlds’ interpretation of Stuttgart’s iconic 2-door sporting heritage.
Powering it is the AMG-enhanced 3.0-litre M256 straight-6 engine, thoroughly enhanced and twin-charged by an exhaust gas turbocharger & additional electric compressor to produce 449 hp with 560 Nm of maximum torque. This impressive output hits the road via AMG’s SPEEDSHIFT TCT 9G transmission and AMG Performance 4MATIC+ fully variable all-wheel drive system; the gearbox itself impresses with more quickly reactive shift times, and multiple downshift functionality for optimal engine braking when decelerating into a racetrack turn, for example. Individual upshifts and downshifts are engaged immediately, with the transmission acting without hesitation particularly in the “Sport+” driving programme & manual shifting modes using the galvanized shift paddles mounted directly behind the steering wheel’s rim.
As always with most of these rapid German steeds, top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h, though this can be raised to 270 km/h with the AMG Driver’s Package for those who believe 155 mph isn’t quite enough. Behind the CLE 53’s 20-inch AMG Y-spoke light-alloy wheels, an AMG high-performance brake system has been tailored to reign in all of that powerful performance, with 370 x 36 mm discs in front & 360 x 26 mm discs at the rear; while red-painted brake calipers compliment their distinctive presence.
Indeed this is a dashingly good-looking performance coupe, with taut proportions and muscular yet refined lines enhancing its powerful long-hood frontal impression, balanced out with a strongly sloped windscreen & the elongated roofline that flows seamlessly into the sportily shortened rear. Especially from the front, the CLE 53’s unashamedly modernist forward-angled “Shark Nose” & power domed bonnet make up an elegantly sporting facial impression; balanced out with sharply cut DIGITAL LIGHT headlights and AMG-specific A-shaped radiator grille.
Raised in the middle with an “A-wing” sectional form, this enables high air flow via a large frontal inlet, an aerodynamic concept also applied to the outer air inlets with twinned cross slats. Distinctive shaped edges structure the side view. Moving around to the lateral and quarter angles, those voluptuously flared front and rear fenders covering wider wheel tracks – 58 mm more in front & 75 mm more at the rear over the standard CLE – truly give the CLE 53 AMG Coupé its uniquely purposeful, powerfully planted appearance.
Its muscular rear end is no less appealing too, defined by flowing surfaces, seamless transitions, and two-part LED lights with three-dimensional light graphics. A dark red design element visually links these latter elements, making the CLE 53’s tail look even more powerfully imposing; accentuated with the double round exhaust tailpipes integrated into the rear apron, a design approach that even improves aerodynamic flow around the rear wheel arches.
Ensuring that it can match those looks with more than just straight line performance, the CLE 53’s AMG RIDE CONTROL chassis has been further developed in Affalterbach for greater agility, traction & handling precision, and traction. An especially sporty suspension set-up with adaptive damping balances excellent driving dynamics ideally with ride comfort: each wheel’s damper adjusts instantly and precisely to varying road conditions, with separate valves controlling the dampers’ rebound & compression characteristics. Overall damping levels can be set across Comfort, Sport and Sport+ settings, providing for long-distance touring comfort and more sporty driving usage alike.
Five AMG DYNAMIC SELECT driving programmes comprising Slippery, Comfort, Sport, Sport+ and Individual further the CLE 53 AMG Coupé’s powertrain & chassis responses for different situational driving preferences, from efficiently comfortable to incredibly sporty. Important parameters such as the response behaviour of the engine, transmission, chassis and steering are modified. Regardless of the selected driving programme mode, the driver can use the M button to activate manual mode & shift gears exclusively using the steering wheel shift paddles; and even determine suspension damping levels separately. Truly, flexible driving adaptability is the name of the game here.
Just as with the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 4MATIC+ Coupé, AMG Performance 4MATIC+ fully variable all-wheel drive and rear axle steering are fully present with this new CLE 53; the former provides optimal dynamic driving traction combined with a high level of safe stability under different weather conditions, being continuously variable as its electronic controls are intelligently integrated into the car’s overall systems architecture.
From the ESP Sport onwards, the system is more rear-biased for especially agile driving dynamics. And in Drift Mode, it’s programmed to remain fully rear-wheel drive; probably enabling those with the requisite skills to bonfire its back tyres all day long. As for the rear axle steering, this actuates the rear wheels up to a maximum angle of 2.5 degrees opposite to the front wheels up to 100 km/h, virtually shortening the wheelbase and significantly increasing turning agility especially in tighter turns; its rate of response also varies according to whichever AMG DYNAMIC SELECT driving programme is currently locked in. It’ll probably need it too, with a kerb weight claimed to be right on the 2 ton mark which is a surprising amount of heft for what is supposed to be more a dynamic sports coupe rather than a full-sized luxury GT.
Moving inside, the new CLE 53 AMG’s cabin will be familiar to anyone who has spent time recently in a contemporary Mercedes-Benz. Its center console is once more dominated by an 11.9-inch vertical touchscreen, complimenting the eye-catching 12.3-inch fully digital driver’s display. What sets it apart, however, are the AMG Performance seats trimmed in ARTICO leather & MICROCUT microfiber with AMG-specific graphics and red contrast stitching, blending sporty aesthetics with a most welcome dose of lateral support for attacking corner apexes. Further exclusive details can be found in the Nappa leather trimmed AMG Performance steering wheel, red seat belts, AMG carbon fiber trim elements & high-gloss black centre console.
There’s also a heads-up display of course, and the AMG TRACK PACE virtual race engineer that records lap, sector, and acceleration times on track along with live telemetry data for later analysis; something that will be most welcome among the track day crowd. For those keen to experience all of this for themselves, pricing for the new CLE 53 4MATIC+ Coupé starts from RM 722,888.
