New Mercedes-Benz CLE

Shaped by desire: Mercedes-Benz is continuing its long tradition of sporty, elegant dream cars with a new, independent series. The new CLE Coupé uses the conceptual and technical innovations of the C-Class and E-Class. With its expressive design, exclusive comfort equipment for maximum individuality and confident, sporty driving performance, the new two-door car goes its own way. The market launch of the CLE Coupé will start in Europe in November. The CLE Cabriolet will follow next year for open-air connoisseurs. With the new dream car series, Mercedes-Benz is fulfilling the wishes of many customers in the C and E class segments.

Iconic design: Long wheelbase, a well-positioned and strongly inclined A-pillar, a short front and a slightly longer rear body overhang, as well as pronounced shoulders and large wheels. There has always been a special magic inherent in these proportions – and they are inextricably linked to the Mercedes-Benz brand. The new CLE Coupé combines these sporty, elegant proportions with the modern design language of Mercedes-Benz. True to the Mercedes-Benz design philosophy of Sensual Purity, the result is a sculpture full of power and dynamism that embodies an emotional statement from every perspective.

Athletic appearance: The progressively forward-leaning front section (“shark nose”) with a low-slung bonnet, flat LED headlights with a unique design and the newly designed, three-dimensional radiator grille ensure an athletic yet extremely elegant appearance. The strongly contoured power domes on the long hood refer to the powerful engines with up to six cylinders. In the side view, a distinctive shaped edge structures the powerful volume. This character line runs from the headlight to the exterior mirror and from the rear light to the door handle. The muscular rear is characterised by flowing surfaces, smooth transitions and two-part LED lights with new contours and three-dimensional light bodies.

Plenty of space: At 4,850 millimetres long, 1,860 millimetres wide and 1,428 millimetres high, the new two-door is the largest coupé in the mid-size segment. With its dimensional concept – in particular the 25-millimetre longer wheelbase – the CLE Coupé offers significantly more space than the C-Class Coupé. The rear passengers in particular benefit from 10 millimetres more headroom, 19 millimetres more shoulder and elbow room and 72 millimetres more knee room. The trunk volume offers 60 litres more volume and can easily hold three golf bags.

Sporty luxury: Eye-catchers in the interior are the free-standing 12.3-inch, fully digital instrument display, the 11.9-inch, driver-oriented central display in user-friendly portrait format and the dynamic ambient lighting featuring 64 colours. If desired, it can extend from the centre console to beneath the outer air vents. In each of the doors, a strip of light runs along the contours of the armrest and beltline to the rear. Another highlight is the front seats in integral sport design, developed exclusively for the CLE. In conjunction with the optional Burmester® 3D surround sound system, they each have two loudspeakers at the level of the headrests and thus create a particularly individual and immersive music experience with Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio close to the ears.

Specific EASY-ENTRY function: For the first time at Mercedes-Benz, the front seats are not unlocked using a lever, but instead with an elegant loop made of Nappa leather. It is conveniently located at the upper edge of the backrest.

Latest MBUX generation: The CLE Coupé adopts numerous digital innovations from the new E-Class. With the new electronics architecture and the third generation of the MBUX infotainment system, it is the most intelligent coupé with the star. It offers an exceptionally interactive entertainment experience with third-party apps and a new level of personalisation with automated convenience functions (routines).

Electrified driving experience: The new CLE Coupé sets standards in efficiency thanks to systematic electrification and intelligent downsizing. All engines are mild hybrids with an integrated starter generator and 48-volt electrical system. There is a choice of four-cylinder units and – as the most powerful engine – a 3.0-litre straight-six petrol engine (Mercedes-Benz CLE 450 4MATIC provisional figures: combined fuel consumption (WLTP): 8.6-7.8 l/100 km; combined CO2 emissions (WLTP): 196-176 g/km)[1] .

Sporty and comfortable driving pleasure: The chassis is lowered by 15 millimetres as standard. The optional DYNAMIC BODY CONTROL, with continuously adjustable damping on the front and rear axles in combination with rear-axle steering, both offered in the Technology package, ensures particularly agile and at the same time comfortable driving pleasure. The steering angle is up to 2.5 degrees. This reduces the turning circle by 50 centimetres. Despite its larger dimensions, the CLE Coupé with rear-wheel drive has a smaller turning circle than the C-Class Coupé (10.7 instead of 11.2 metres).

Extensive safety: Numerous driver assistance systems, some of which have been further developed, offer situation-specific support for more safety. The extensive standard equipment includes ATTENTION ASSIST, Active Brake Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist, Speed Limit Assist, and the parking package with reversing camera. In Western Europe, Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC is also standard equipment.

Classic coupé design for a sporty, elegant appearance
The new CLE Coupé: the exterior design

• Athletic coupé proportions with a dynamic character line on the side
• Aerodynamic front end with a pronounced “shark nose” and a new headlight and radiator grille design
• Powerful rear end in “seamless” design and striking rear lights with aesthetic connecting element

The new CLE Coupé embodies an emotional statement from every perspective. The sporty, elegant two-door unites proportions typical of a coupé with the modern design language of Mercedes-Benz, whose aesthetic soul is shaped by the design philosophy of Sensual Purity. This creates a sculptural appearance for the CLE Coupé, which is characterised by flowing surfaces with seamless transitions. The progressive dynamics and elegance come into their own when viewed from the side: thanks to the combination of a low silhouette (1,428 mm) with a long wheelbase (2,865 mm), short overhangs (888 mm at the front/1,097 mm at the rear) and a particularly muscular shoulder the two-door fills the road. Other typical coupé features are the long bonnet embedded in the front end with two powerful power domes, the steeply sloping windscreen and the long, sloping roof towards the rear. The passenger cell, which is set far back, leads to the sporty, short rear via the rear window, which is also set flat.

A distinctive shaped edge structures the powerful volume in the side wall. This character line runs from the headlight to the exterior mirror and from the rear light to the door handle. It emphasises the sporty proportions and the powerful wheel arches. In addition, the shaped edge, together with the chrome-rimmed side windows, underlines the balance between elegance and dynamics. The basic variant AVANTGARDE Line rolls on 18-inch light-alloy wheels as standard. With the AMG Line, 19-inch rims are standard. A large selection of other light-alloy wheels in 18 to 20 inches and ten different exterior colours enable a high degree of customisation.

Expressive front: newly designed three-dimensional radiator grille

The progressively forward-leaning front section (“shark nose”) with a low-slung bonnet, flat LED headlights with a unique design and a distinctive radiator grille ensure a decidedly athletic yet extremely elegant appearance. The strongly contoured power domes on the long hood reference the powerful engines with up to six cylinders. As is typical for coupés, the radiator grille has a single louvre in glossy black with chrome trim and a central star. Behind it shines a grille in a newly designed, three-dimensional chrome look with a Mercedes-Benz pattern. The downward-opening silhouette of the radiator grille (A-shape design) also emphasises the powerful forward drive of the CLE Coupé. Together with the chrome frame around the shiny black central air intake in the front apron, it makes the two-door look lower and nestle closer to the road.

The CLE Coupé has LED High Performance headlights with a newly designed trifunctional torch for daytime running lights, position lights and direction indicators as standard. DIGITAL LIGHT headlights with and without projection function are available as special equipment. They have two daytime running light ellipses and blue illumination of the headlight base for an unmistakable look that further reinforces the dynamic appearance.

Powerful rear: Distinctive LED lights with three-dimensional light bodies

The powerful rear is characterised by flowing surfaces and smooth transitions. Another highlight is the two-part LED lights with new contours and three-dimensional light bodies. Optionally, a light show to welcome and say goodbye to the passengers is available. The rear lights are connected with a dark red design element. Like the classic chrome trim strip on the bumper, it emphasises the width of the rear. In the AVANTGARDE Line, C-shaped trim parts enclose the chrome trim strip like a classy clasp.

The dimensional concept: the largest coupé in its segment
With its dimensional concept, the CLE Coupé is in a league of its own. At 4,850 millimetres long, 1,860 millimetres wide and 1,428 millimetres high, the new two-door is significantly larger than the C-Class Coupé, but two millimetres flatter and 15 millimetres longer than the E-Class Coupé.