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Here we have the Mercedes-AMG CLE 53. It is a coupe, which means it has two doors, a sloping roof, and a general air of not needing to be practical. It costs ₹1.35 crore, and in return, you get something that will travel from 0 to 100 kmph in 4.2 seconds and, unusually, reach 270 kmph here in India rather than the 250 kmph you get elsewhere.
This additional 20 kmph is presumably the result of someone in Stuttgart deciding we could handle it.
Exterior
It is just under 5 metres long, which is the sort of size that allows for a very long bonnet and a boot that’s more decorative than cavernous. At the front, there’s the Panamericana grille with the AMG badge, flanked by LED projector lamps and some generous air intakes. The example you see in Sun Yellow looks rather like an extrovert in a dinner jacket.
Along the side,s you have frameless doors, black mirrors, chrome handles, and a discreet ‘Turbo’ badge on the fenders. The 20-inch wheels are large enough to be noticed from orbit, and they hide red brake callipers in case you needed reassurance about the stopping power. At the rear, a sloping roofline leads to quad exhausts and a tailgate that opens with a wave of the foot, which is useful if your hands are full of expensive shopping.
Interior and Features
Inside, it is recognisably AMG. There is gloss trim, a large portrait touchscreen, turbine-style air vents, and a flat-bottom steering wheel. The sport seats are leather, black with red stitching, and grip you in a way that suggests you might be doing something energetic.
Rear passengers get decent space and cupholders, although the absence of a central armrest is a mild oversight. There is a voice-controlled panoramic sunroof, which means you can open it without looking away from the road.
There’s also a 17-speaker Burmester 3D audio system, wireless charging, ventilated and powered front seats with memory settings, a head-up display, and dual-zone climate control. Safety is handled by eight airbags, a 360-degree camera, tyre pressure monitoring, and a full suite of driver assistance systems.
Engine and Performance
The engine is a 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder petrol, producing 443 bhp and 560 Nm. It is assisted by a 48V mild hybrid system and linked to a 9-speed automatic gearbox. It will do everything from a calm motorway cruise to an enthusiastic dash, with little drama in the process.
It is, in short, a coupe that’s fast enough to keep you interested, comfortable enough to drive every day, and just extroverted enough to be noticed without causing a scene.
