As you may have heard, Mercedes-Benz is trimming its car lineup and reducing the number of body styles ahead of its transition to all-electric power by 2030. The brand just announced a major move in that particular direction for 2024. The C-Class Coupe and E-Class Coupe are merging into one car, the all-new Mercedes CLE Coupe.
The motif for the new CLE is “sporty luxury.” Mercedes told Wards Auto that C-Class Coupe buyers wanted that car to get more luxurious and E-Class Coupe buyers wanted that car to get sportier. And Mercedes-Benz hopes the CLE will give most buyers what they want with the same package.
Here’s what you need to know about the 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE Coupe.
The CLE Coupe is a two-door vehicle
Coupe means coupe for the CLE. It is a traditional “2+2” vehicle with two doors and a second row of seats. Mercedes describes the CLE as a midsize vehicle. It runs on the MRA Platform that underpins the S-Class, C-Class, GLC-Class and E-Class. Its wheelbase is about an inch longer than the C-Class Coupe. The total length is 6.5 inches longer than the C-Class Coupe and 0.6 inches longer than the E-Class Coupe.
The CLE Coupe offers two engines
Mercedes-Benz will offer the CLE Coupe with two "mild-hybrid" engine options. The base CLE 350 4MATIC engine is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder offering 255 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. The CLE 450 4MATIC comes with a 3.0-liter inline-six delivering 375 hp and 369 lb-ft. Both models have a 9-speed automatic transmission and come with all-wheel-drive standard. We would bet an AMG version or two will come down the line. But those have not been confirmed yet.
Does the CLE Coupe have any other cool features?
The CLE Coupe draws from the new E-Class on tech. It gets the latest third-generation MBUX infotainment system. Mercedes offers a new “Easy-Entry” function for rear passengers with a Nappa leather handle on the seat. The CLE also gets vehicle-specific sporty seats with speakers for the standard Burmeister 3D surround sound with Dolby Atmos built into the headrests.
Will there be a convertible Mercedes CLE?
Yes. Mercedes does plan to offer a CLE Cabriolet. It will arrive after the CLE Coupe.
When will the CLE Coupe arrive?
Mercedes says the CLE Coupe will hit American dealers in early 2024 as a 2024 model-year vehicle. The CLE Cabriolet will follow at an undetermined point after that. It’s unclear whether that will be later in 2024 or 2025.
How much will the Mercedes CLE Coupe cost?
Mercedes has not revealed pricing yet for the CLE Coupe. Deploying some deductive reasoning, the base four-cylinder C-Class Coupe starts at $49,995. The six-cylinder E-Class Coupe currently begins at $69,570. We’d expect pricing not to differ too wildly and for the CLE Coupe to start somewhere in the $50,000s.
