The 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE Coupe Gets An Inline-Six With 375 HP…

Mercedes-Benz

The 2024 CLE Coupe is a perfect blend of what Mercedes-Benz has to offer. The German automaker got the scoop from its customers: folks buying the C-Class Coupe wanted a touch more luxury, while E-Class Coupe buyers wanted something a bit sportier.

Mercedes hopes to hit the sweet spot with the CLE coupe, combining what most customers wanted into one irresistible package. The motto of the new CLE is “sporty luxury.”

This is all part of Mercedes’ recent downsizing approach. The automaker is paring down its car lineup and cutting down on the number of body styles it offers, alongside its shift to all-electric power by 2030.

The CLE Coupe and its breezy convertible version, the CLE Cabriolet, are the newest products of this strategy. But the fun isn’t over just because Mercedes is going green. For the purists out there, the CLE will also be available with an inline-six pushing 375 hp. Mercedes is making moves to give everyone a bit of what they’re after, whether that's a sports car or a luxury car.

Mercedes-Benz

Unlike the C-Class, which only offers a four-cylinder engine range, the CLE steps up the game with an available six-cylinder powertrain. The CLE 450 4Matic packs a twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six, which cranks out a solid 375 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. That power is coupled with nine-speed automatic transmission and a redesigned all-wheel-drive system that is lighter than the one in the C-Class Coupe.

The CLE’s engine runs on a 48-volt mild-hybrid setup. Also included is an integrated starter generator, or ISG, which is an electric motor that can add extra power to the engine’s crankshaft. This technology can smooth out the auto start/stop feature, and can also temporarily boost the engine’s torque by a whopping 148 lb-ft.

Also available is the base four-cylinder model, which is a mild-hybrid system, as well. The CLE 300 4Matic runs on a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine and puts out 255 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. Just like its bigger six-cylinder counterpart, the CLE 300 is hitched to a nine-speed automatic transmission and Mercedes’s 4Matic system.

We don’t have all the details yet regarding performance figures for either the six-cylinder or four-cylinder CLE. However, we do know the CLE will have an electronically limited top speed of 130 mph.

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As far as the ride, the CLE’s suspension is set 0.6 inches lower than the C-Class sedan’s and has received a bit of a tune-up. The front wheels include four links per wheel, and there is a multi-link setup for the rear axle. The base CLE will be available with a standard “comfort” suspension, but for those who like a bit more edge to their ride, Mercedes has got you covered with a sportier option.

The sport suspension comes standard on the six-cylinder model and is available on the four-cylinder version with the AMG package. The setup includes stiffer springs and more direct steering, giving drivers a tighter feel on the road.

Mercedes-Benz

When compared with the looks of the C- and E-Class, the new CLE Coupe combines the best of both words. The new coupe shares its MRA Platform with the C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, and GLC-Class. It features a traditional “2+2” setup, with two doors and a snug second row of seats.

Although the CLE shares the same 112.8-inch wheelbase as the C-Class, the new coupe is a bit stretched. It is actually longer by 6.5 inches than the C-Class Coupe and even edges out the E-Class Coupe by a slight 0.6 inches. Width-wise, it’s about the same as the E-Class, which itself is a bit wider than the C-Class. As far as height, the CLE sits comfortably between the two.

If you’re acquainted with the C- and E-Class, the 2024 CLE will seem familiar. While it carries the same overall design language as the C-Class, it isn’t a carbon copy. The CLE Coupe has its own flair, sporting a sharper angle on the A-pillar, a shorter front overhang, and a slightly longer overhang at the rear.

It also features broader wheel arches that set it apart from the C-Class Coupe. The 2024 CLE is sleek and well-proportioned, with just the right amount of muscle. It’s exactly what we would expect an updated C-Class or E-Class Coupe would look like.

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Mercedes-Benz

Inside, the CLE combines the overall feel and layout of the C-Class with the tech of the new E-Class. You’re greeted with a waterfall-like center console that’s home to a huge 12.3-inch tablet. The digital display is angled slightly toward the driver. An additional 11.9-inch digital instrument cluster sits right behind the steering wheel. The 2024 CLE is equipped with the latest third-generation MBUX infotainment system.

Entirely new for the 2024 CLE Coupe are a set of sporty seats, which feature a slightly lower driving position. As part of the standard Burmester 3D surround sound system, the seats feature Dolby Atmos speakers built directly into the headrests, making the seats a treat for both your back and your ears.

Mercedes has thought about the backseat passengers too, with a new “Easy-Entry” function that is complete with an elegant Nappa leather loop at the top edge of the backrest to fold down the front seats.

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The rest of the CLE’s interior has that typical Mercedes touch. You’ve got the familiar steering wheel and those signature “squircle” air vents. The interior is softly lit by ambient lighting, the color of which can be easily customized from within the infotainment system.

The extra length of the CLE pays off too, as it’s got more legroom than both the C-Class and E-Class Coupes. The CLE truly hits on all the right notes, whether it's style, technology, or comfort.

When compared to the C-Class and E-Class coupes, the CLE might seem pretty predictable on the surface. While it does borrow heavily from two well-known Mercedes cars, there’s plenty that’s fresh about this 2024 Coupe.

As far as the price tag, we’re still in the dark, but customers will be able to get their hands on a new CLE Coupe in early 2024. An open-top version, the CLE Cabriolet, is also on the horizon, although it will be available a bit later than the hardtop version. For those who love an adrenaline rush, we expect that AMG-branded versions of both the coupe and the convertible are in the works.