What is it?
It’s a coupe. A rather serious-looking one. Mercedes-AMG will bring the CLE 53 Coupe to India on August 12, expanding the CLE range that so far only includes the sunny-side-up CLE 300 Cabriolet. This one, however, ditches the tan leather and beach vibes for something a bit more sinister.
At the heart of it is a 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged straight-six petrol engine paired with mild-hybrid assistance. It develops 449bhp and 560Nm, with an extra 40Nm available briefly via overboost. Power goes to all four wheels through a 9-speed AMG Speedshift gearbox and the 4Matic+ system.
The result is 0–100kmph in a claimed 4.2 seconds and a top speed of 250kmph. You can raise that to 270kmph if you specify the optional AMG Performance Package and presumably live near an airstrip.
What does it look like?
Like it eats other coupes for breakfast, the CLE 53 wears the Panamericana grille with vertical slats, flanked by LED headlights that look like they’ve been squinting at you in judgment. The bumper is larger, meaner and considerably more inhaling than the one on the Cabriolet.
At the sides, the fenders are flared enough to startle small hatchbacks, and there are vents just behind the front wheels, possibly to let the attitude out. Around the rear, you get four exhausts, a gloss-black diffuser and yet more air exits. It’s all very AMG.
You’ll get 19-inch alloy wheels as standard, with 20-inchers optional. Expect the ride to be firm and the attitude firmer.
What’s inside?
If the outside is all aggression, the cabin is pure theatre. It’s mostly black, with red stitching on Alcantara, a flat-bottom AMG steering wheel, and carbon-fibre trim just in case you forgot this is a performance car.
You also get an 11.9-inch touchscreen, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a Burmester sound system, a heads-up display, 64-colour ambient lighting, and power-adjustable seats with memory.
It may be a coupe, but it hasn’t skimped on tech. Or showmanship.
How much will it cost?
Expect it to arrive with a price tag around Rs 2 crore (ex-showroom). That’s a lot, but then again, it is a lot of car. For reference, the BMW M2, its nearest rival in size and spirit, offers 460bhp and 550Nm for Rs 1.03 crore.
The AMG CLE 53 brings more seats, all-wheel-drive and, crucially, more AMG drama.
Should you care?
Yes, if you’ve ever wished your luxury coupe could also scare people a little. The CLE 53 Coupe offers the sleek profile of a two-door with the underpinnings of a full-fat AMG. It’s faster than it looks, louder than it needs to be, and almost certainly more expensive than your house.
But it is also the only car in its segment that combines performance, practicality and a very straight-six sense of purpose. And come August 12, it’ll officially make India a slightly noisier place.
