Mercedes-Benz: Coupé de Grace

CLE is a coupé for the current age, combining the best of both E-Class and C-Class; mid-sized and remarkably efficient yet luxurious, rapid, effortless … and oh so beautiful.

Mercedes-Benz CLE Coupé, Exterieur: AMG-Line, graphitgrau magno; Interieur: AMG-Line, Nappaleder Tonkabraun

Mercedes-Benz has always prided itself on its coupés, some of the most beautiful cars ever made. The covetous 280SE of the 1960s, the increasingly collectible, delightfully idiosyncratic C124 of 1984 or the much-loved, imperious W126 500SEC. Sizeable or compact, the Mercedes coupé’s golden thread has always been a non-negotiable trio: elegance, attitude, presence. So it is with the latest emissary, the new CLE Coupé, due in South Africa soon.

CLE is a coupé for the current age, combining the best of both E-Class and C-Class; mid-sized and remarkably efficient yet luxurious, rapid, effortless … and oh so beautiful. Because coupés trade in desirability above all else. CLE embodies Mercedes-Benz’s philosophy of Sensual Purity, a design approach that emphasises sculptural flow and seamless transitions. From every angle the organic form suggests a car in motion, flexed, agile – even when parked.

MERCEDES-BENZ CLE COUPÉ

POWER: CLE 200: 150kW, 320Nm
CLE 300 4Matic: 190kW, 400Nm

CONSUMPTION: CLE 200: 6.4 l/100km
CLE 300 4Matic: 7 l/100km

PERFORMANCE: CLE 200: 0–100kph 7.4s, 240kph CLE 300 4Matic: 0–100kph 6.2s, 250kph

Both models come with a 5-year/100 000km Service Plan and Maintenance Plan
The CLE Cabriolet will join the range in 2025.

That elegant flow continues inside, where four sculpted, individually crafted seats sit in a cabin designed to be as luxurious and cosseting as it is functional. In conjunction with the optional Burmester 3D surround sound system, the new front seats each have two speakers at the level of the headrests, offering an immersive sound experience. And getting into the back is simplicity itself. Pulling an elegant Nappa leather loop on the upper edge of the backrest releases the front seat which then slides forward automatically. No grasping around for fiddly levers.

Mercedes-Benz CLE Coupé, Exterieur: AMG-Line, graphitgrau magno; Interieur: AMG-Line, Nappaleder Tonkabraun

Up front, the 11.9-inch portrait-format central display is the stand-out feature of the interior, growing seamlessly out of the centre console. The usability is industry-leading, interactive graphics and icons making the business of sound, driver aids and infotainment gratifyingly easy. The standard multi-function sports steering wheel is in leather, giving a sense of the sporty dynamism of the drive to come.

And what a drive. Under the bonnet the CLE employs the latest powerful Mercedes- Benz 2-litre turbocharged engine, allied to a ISG electric system for added efficiency and seamless low- and high-end power delivery. 4Matic all-wheel drive means CLE is adaptable for any occasion – spirited driving, effortless cruising, ultimate economy – as the intelligent system tailors the car to every driving environment at the twist of a dial.

The current Mercedes-Benz generation of cars takes fluid, elegant propulsion to new heights and CLE is no exception. From the barely perceptible start-up to the velvet de- livery, the Coupé entertains, astonishes and excels, whether on the long road or around town. It will glide and pamper, but ask it to channel the racetrack and it will, hunkering down, its pin-sharp steering and responsive 9G-TRONIC automatic transmission working in unison with the chassis to provide maximum thrills. Truly CLE is all things to all drivers, a car for every mood and occasion.