New 2024 Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 4MATIC+ revealed

The all-new 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE range has been expanded to include a new high-performance flagship called the Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 4MATIC+ Coupe, which should land in Australia in the second half of 2024.

When it arrives here, it will face up to the likes of the current Audi S5 and BMW M440i, wearing an exterior design that makes it look a lot like with the upcoming flagship Mercedes-AMG CLE 63.

That’s because the all-new Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 will come with a wide body as standard, featuring flared front fenders that are 58mm wider, while the rear wheel-arches are a considerable 75mm broader compared to the standard CLE.

A pretty hard-core looking vented bonnet – complete with AMG power domes – plus a familiar AMG-specific front grille, revised front bumper with a new splitter and reshaped air-intakes all help to make a sizeable impression.

At the rear there are trademark AMG quad round exhaust outlets, a diffuser and a small ducktail spoiler, all which see the CLE 53 lead the class for visual aggression.

An optional AMG Optics pack adds extra winglets (or flics) on the front bumper, slaps on a more prominent rear ducktail bootlid spoiler and set of new diffuser boards.

Three further styling packages can be added, including two AMG Night packs that swap out the silverwork for black chrome and a further AMG Carbon pack that introduces extra visual carbon-fibre into the mix.

As standard, the CLE 53 rides on 19-inch alloy wheels but it’s thought most AMG owners in Australia will bin them for larger 20s.

Within, the AMG coupe comes with the same 11.9-inch infotainment system as the regular CLE, which runs the firm’s latest MBUX operating system. Ahead of the driver there’s also the same 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.

Specific to the AMG 53 are sports seats trimmed in faux leather and black microfibre. They can be upgraded with leather or premium Nappa leather, with a more extreme AMG performance seat also available, offering maximum lateral support.

A double-spoke AMG performance steering wheel is also present, offering intuitive rotary controllers that help the driver easily switch between drive modes.

Like other AMG models, there are sportier displays for the instrument cluster and an AMG menu to access extra displays including gear indicator, G-meter, race timer and extra engine gauges.

Speaking of the engine, despite packing a bonnet with AMG’s trademark power domes, the CLE 53 doesn’t come with the performance division’s famed twin-turbo V8.

Instead, powering the Audi S5 rival is an upgraded version of the M256 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder mild-hybrid turbo-petrol engine used elsewhere in the range. For the CLE there’s been significant changes including new inlet and outlet channels for the combustion chambers, fresh piston rings, a revised fuel-injection system and an all-new turbocharger.

Finally, a new electric supercharger has also been added, enabling engineers to turn up the boost from 0.4bar to 1.5bar.

The result is the new engine can produce 330kW of power and 560Nm of torque, with up to 600Nm of torque available for 12 seconds on overboost.

Engineers claim that, on the road, the extra torque (+40Nm) and power (+10kW) over the outgoing Mercedes-AMG E 53 Coupe will give drivers a huge dose of extra performance in the mid-range, thanks to the higher boost pressure of the electric supercharger.

Another element playing its part in eradicating turbo lag is the all-new integrated starter generator that functions both as a generator to claw back energy, but can also provide a short-term boost of 17kW and 205Nm when needed.

The latest system also allows for smoother than ever stop/starting and permits longer periods of coasting for lower fuel use.

The mild-hybrid inline-six is combined with the firm’s nine-speed automatic, which has been tweaked for quicker shift times, and a smoother double-declutching function that can assist multiple downshifts.

Most who buy the CLE 53 will be more obsessed with the performance the revised powertrain delivers and it won’t disappoint, with claimed 0-100km/h acceleration in just 4.2 seconds and a top speed limited to 250km/h as standard. But tick the box for the AMG Driver’s Pack and that increases to 270km/h.

Reigning in its might is a pair of large 370mm front brake discs clamped by four-piston callipers. At the rear are a pair of barely-smaller 360mm rotors combined with a single-piston floating calliper.

Like other AMG models the CLE 53 benefits from the performance brand’s fully variable AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive system as standard.

Switch to the ESP Sport setting and the system delivers rear-biased handling that can offer drivers a drift mode, which the AWD channels 100 per cent of its torque to the rear wheels.

Other impressive new chassis tech includes AMG Ride Control adaptive dampers and a rear-wheel steering system that pivots the rear wheels by up to 2.5 degrees in opposite direction to the fronts at up to 100km/h.

If you want the Drift Mode we mentioned earlier you have to tick the AMG Dynamic Plus option box, which also adds a Race driving mode, an AMG Performance steering wheel wrapped in microfibre suede and bright red brake callipers. There are also active engine mounts under the bonnet.

Pricing for the new Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 4MATIC+ won’t be released until much closer to its 2024 debut, but it’s thought it might be priced close to the old E 53 Coupe from around $170,000.

Later on, AMG is expected to shoehorn an even larger and more powerful engine into the stylish CLE body to create a full-fat CLE 63 S version.

Engine options for the CLE 63 include one last outing for the M177 twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 or the state-of-the-art 500kW 2.0-litre four-cylinder plug-in hybrid powertrain from the C 63.

AMG will also roll out a convertible version of the CLE 53 soon after the coupe’s launch.

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