Before it is officially revealed and launched in South Africa, Mercedes-Benz South Africa gave Alex Shahini the keys to the all-new CLE 53 AMG to join the regularity rally that is the Cape 1000 and determine if it is a worthy recipient of the Aufrecht, Melcher, and Großaspach insignia.
Image: Cape 1000
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You’re in for the ride of your life, said Ross Crichton, organiser of the Western Cape-based Cape 1000 regularity rally as we completed the registration at the Show & Shine event on Sunday. Myself and Sam da Fonseca of TheCarScene were readying to pilot the unreleased Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 for the coming days. The burning question on our lips was whether it would have the ability to reinvigorate the AMG moniker…
Related: Mercedes-AMG CLE 63 Spotted in South Africa!
Sitting adjacent to the registration table at the preliminary function of the Cape 1000 was the sole CLE 53 in the country. As the Cape crowds started rolling into the picturesque Moullie Point venue on the edge of the rock face, the latest Mercedes model was met with many bemused faces. “Is this the C-Class Coupe?” and “Does it have a V8 under the bonnet” were peppered towards myself and Sam. With very little confirmed information for the South African bound model, including pricing, the response was that this would serve as AMG’s opening gambit to transform the coupe into something more visceral for prospective buyers.
Image: Cape 1000
Coincidentally to the Cape 1000 Show & Shine, there were rumours that Mercedes-AMG had shipped a camouflaged CLE 63 into O.R. Tambo International Airport to complete hot weather testing in the more extreme corners of the land. Addressing this elephant in the room, I confirmed that it would also serve as the smaller sibling of the full-fat CLE 63, which may or may not feature the potent V8 powertrain. But until that unreleased model eventually makes its global debut and confirms or refutes this speculation, buyers can opt for the high-tech inline-six under the bonnet of this. Having been introduced to the CLE 53 only a few minutes prior, we were unable to answer whether it was “a true AMG” yet.
The CLE moniker is a novel concept for the German automaker since it replaces both the C-Class Coupe and E-Class Coupe. This makes it the first of its kind in the Mercedes-Benz lineup to combine these two models into a single coupe (C236) and convertible (A236). The CLE-Class was thus introduced to replace the aforementioned coupes, streamlining the Mercedes-Benz lineup because of dwindling interest in these body styles. In terms of dimensions, the CLE outmeasures the outgoing models it replaces, with a length that’s 15 millimetres longer than the E-Class and 164 millimetres longer than the C-Class.
Mercedes has outfitted it with familiar exterior styling, including a wrap-around taillight however the most significant update is the added girth on the front and rear arches, which provides a significantly more purposeful stance. Inside is the latest iteration of MBUX which is projected onto a vertical 11.9-inch infotainment and a 12.3-inch instrument cluster.
Related: Review: Mercedes-Benz CLE Coupé and Cabriolet
On offer locally is the CLE200, and CLE300 available in both coupe and cabriolet body styles. The global stage also receives a 450-badged model which employs the M256 3.0-litre inline-six. What separates the CLE 53 from is non AMG badged brethren is a mild-hybrid system attached to the aforementioned motor. Pair this with an exhaust gas turbocharger and electric auxiliary compressor, and it boasts performance that could make prospective buyers wane. To quash any fears, it sends power to all corners courtesy of a standard AMG Performance 4Matic+ fully variable all-wheel-drive system and the inclusion of active rear-axle steering.
There were only 25 km of stop-start Cape Town morning traffic at my disposal to familiarise myself with the sizable AMG coupe before it would tackle Killarney International Raceway. Combining the performance, dynamics and luxury of both the C-Class and E-Class Coupe into one package, its lofty 2-tonne heft was hanging over my confidence up until the out-lap reaffirmed its technological advancements and impressive levels of grip…
Image: Cape 1000
The under-the-surface trickery inspired impressive driveability from the get-go, and the second lap was already increments off its ultimate limit. On the track, a noticeable addition of contemporary technology was the rear wheel steering which makes it predictable and precise, despite the kerb weight.
But, despite the work of AMG’s finest, its track abilities are not actually its forte. The CLE-Class is described as a grand tourer which is meant to conduct the trick task of combining comfort and sporty performance into a single package. Over the course of the 1 600 km distance of the Cape 1000, the visceral motor could effortlessly switch hats and morph into a quiet, kilometre-consuming creation once the twisty stretches of tarmac were dispatched courtesy of pre-programmed drive modes. Bainskloof Pass, Du Toitskloof Pass, Clarens Drive and a handful of other ribboned sections of the Cape’s finest roads echoed the sentiment from the track but the open road was where it really came into its own.
Related: Consolidating 2 Into 1: Why The Mercedes-Benz CLE Exists
All of the lab-coat inspired technology crammed into the engine bay does make it feel as though AMG has held out on just a little bit though, it would be a sin to overshadow the forthcoming CLE 63. Or, perhaps the motoring public simply expect a burbling V8 from AMG, it sure seems that way with the limited success of the performance-hyperfocused C63 AMG.
We don’t know. Mercedes-Benz South Africa has only just homologated the inline-six iteration of the coupe and hasn’t alluded to an official introduction date or price. Based on the competitors listed in the next chapter and the fact that its lesser 2.0-litre-powered CLE alternatives available locally are maxed out at just under R1.6 million, we can only speculate that this will be priced around the R2 million (without spec) mark.
Not the full-fat model from AMG, its most direct rivals would be the BMW M440i and Audi S5 (or the RS 5based on speculated price) and the Lexus RC, which is no longer available as a new car in South Africa. This company means that it will likely cater to affluent individuals wanting something more prominent and powerful than the base models, but without the need for all-out performance.
“It is giving 63” were the statements made by many during the week of the Cape 1000. And after nearly 2 000 km under our belt, it seems that its performance does too. Time will tell if this places the tuning division of Mercedes-Benz in a conundrum because if this is a taste of what is to come, the CLE 63 will have sizable boots to fill. What it ‘lacks’ in the power department against its rivals it certainly makes up for in the corners.
The likelihood of a V8 in the C63 is almost certain and potentially as a welcomed result of Mercedes-AMG listening to customer demands, but depending on where this is priced, it could very well be the more compelling proposition if the sound of a V8 isn’t a dealbreaker for its target audience. Time will tell.
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