Source: Motorpress /Mercedes-Benz South Africa
Shaped by desire: The new CLE series of Mercedes-Benz dream cars
Enhanced interior luxury exclusive seats in integral sports design Powerful engines with electrified technology as well as 4MATIC for a dynamic driving experience Other highlights include the standard multi-function sports steering wheel in leather and new front seats developed exclusively for the CLE.
Enhanced interior luxury exclusive seats in integral sports design
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
Sporty luxury in a class of its own, focused fully on the driver: this is the concept for the interior design of the new CLE Coupé. Eye-catchers in the cockpit are the free-standing 12.3-inch (21.3 cm) fully digital instrument display and the 11.9-inch (30.2 cm) central display in user-friendly portrait format. It grows seamlessly out of the front, glossy jet-black area of the centre console and has a six-degree incline towards the driver's seat. Together with the vertical format, this creates a visual dynamic and lightness that underlines the sporty claim and the pronounced driver orientation of the CLE Coupé.
Additional sportiness is created by the dynamic ambient lighting in 64 colours. Ambient lighting with indirect light on the trim strip of the instrument panel, the cup holders on the centre console, the overhead control unit, the door handles, the seat adjustment unit and in the front footwell is standard equipment. With the optional Ambient Lighting Plus, a light band sweeps from the centre console along the lower edge of the instrument panel to beneath the outer air vents on each side. A strip of light runs in each of the doors along the lines of the armrest and beltline to the rear row of seats, which reinforces the generous feeling of space.
They feature an avant-garde sports seat design with integrated headrests. In conjunction with the optional Burmester® 3D surround sound system, they each have two speakers at the level of the headrests, creating a particularly individual and immersive music experience.
A new, specific EASY-ENTRY function ensures easy access to the rear. The front seats are not unlocked with a lever, but with an elegant loop made of Nappa leather. It is conveniently located at the upper edge of the backrest. Anyone who has not buckled their seat belt immediately after boarding can reactivate the seat belt feeder via a button on the central display or simply by opening and closing the door again. In addition, the CLE Coupé is one of the first Mercedes-Benz vehicles with an optimised warning if the seat belt is not fastened. The system only reacts to seats on which someone who has not buckled their seat belt is actually sitting.
Thanks to consistent electrification and intelligent downsizing, the new CLE Coupé sets standards in efficiency. The range of engines includes four-cylinder units from the current modular Mercedes-Benz engine family.
South African customers will have a choice of two power options, namely the CLE 200 and the more performance focused CLE 300 with standard 4MATIC all-wheel drive. In addition to a turbocharger, they have a second-generation integrated starter generator (ISG). It provides support in the low-speed range and ensures excellent power development.
The ISG includes the 48-volt vehicle electrical system. It ensures functions such as coasting, boost or recuperation and thus enables significant savings in consumption. Another advantage: the engines start very quickly and conveniently. As a result, the start-stop function is almost imperceptible, as is the transition from coasting with the engine switched off to powerful propulsion with engine power. When idling, the intelligent interaction of the ISG with the combustion engine ensures outstanding smoothness. Thanks to a new battery, the power of the electric motor has been increased from 15 to 17 kW compared to other series. The boost torque is 205 Nm.
The 9G-TRONIC transmission was further developed for the adaptation of the ISG and is used in all CLE models. The electric motor, the power electronics and the transmission cooler have been moved into or onto the transmission. The lines that were previously required are no longer required, which offers advantages in terms of installation space and weight. In addition, the efficiency of the transmission has been increased.
The 4MATIC all-wheel drive has also been further developed. With the front-axle drive, higher torques can be transmitted and axle load distributions that are ideal in terms of driving dynamics can be achieved. In addition, there is a significant weight advantage compared to the corresponding component of the previous series. Less weight contributes to a dynamic driving experience with the grip advantage for confidence.
“The CLE ushers in a new avenue into uncompromised driving dynamics for Mercedes-Benz customers within the dream car range. The CLE is an emotive piece of art crafted to inspire the senses. It perfectly bridges the gap between the outgoing C Class and E Class coupe. It offers the best of both in a dynamic package that offers the latest in digitisation. The two CLE models on offer for the South African market are just the start and I can’t wait to share what this model range has to offer.” Mark Raine, co-CEO Mercedes-Benz South Africa
“Sublime, that’s the word that I would use to describe the all-new CLE model offerings that we have made available to our customers. These are the cars that people dream about, and they do not disappoint. We have come in very competitively with our pricing and customers have unmatched choice in terms of crafting their desired CLE model to their specification.” Alex Boavida. Vice President Sales and Marketing MBSA
The model range for the market launch in Europe
CLE 200
CLE 300 4MATIC
Capacity
cm3
1,999
1,999
Nominal performance
kW/PS
150
190
at
1/min
5,800-5,800
5,800-5,800
Additional power EG boost
kW/PS
17
17
Rated torque
Nm
320
400
at
1/min
1,600-4,000
2,000-3,200
Additional torque EQ boost
Nm
205
205
Combined fuel consumption (WLTP)
l/100 km
7.1-6.4[3]
7.6-7.0[3]
Combined CO₂-emissions (WLTP)
g/km
162-145[3]
173-159[3]
Acceleration 0-100 km/h
s
7.4
6.2
Top speed
km/h
240
250
CLE 200 – R1 355 350
CLE 300 4Matic – R1 430 650
All pricing includes a 5 year/100 000km Service Plan and Maintenance Plan
CLE 200 – R1 355 350
CLE 300 4Matic – R1 430 650