Double Apex was invited to the national ride-and-drive event of the all-new Mercedes-Benz CLE Coupe held in KZN earlier this week.

Think of Mercedes-Benz and your mind may float towards staunch sedans or the increasing list of SUVs the brand produces. However, the automaker has a long history of sleek coupes that includes the likes of the original ‘Gullwing’, Pagoda, et al. The latest addition to this family is the newly launched Mercedes-Benz CLE Coupe. The CLE is a new model line for the brand. Mercedes has done away with the C- and E-class coupes. In their place it offers the CLE, a single offering that straddles the lines between the two outgoing models.

Follow Double Apex on Instagram and Facebook where we share more car content.

Sleek As You Like

The Mercedes-Benz CLE Coupe has been penned in the traditional sense of the word ‘coupe’. As a result it has a long bonnet, two doors, an arching roofline and a generous rump. The lines are quite sleek. The front-end, in particular, is striking. The main air intake has dozens of little three-pointed stars surrounding the main badge. A set of wide, flat headlamps are a slightly different take on those seen on the smaller CLA. The taillamps are also wide and flat, accentuating the width of the rear end.

In profile one can see the typical bowed roofline of a coupe. The side view is complemented by a large alloys in a multi-spoke design. The latter underlining the car’s sporting pretense. Mercedes-Benz press material throws around all the usual catchphrases, such as modernity, dynamism and purity. But one doesn’t need a thesaurus to know that this is a pretty car. In fact, we’d go as far as saying it is one of the prettiest in the current Merc line-up.

Click here to read our driving impression of the recently launched C63S AMG performance saloon.

Sumptuous Interior

The sense of style and ‘modernity’, continues into the cabin. Mercedes’ designers have given the cabin a driver-centric focus. There is a large digital instrument cluster ahead of the driver. There is another, set in portrait orientation on the facia. The latter is angled towards the driver for ease of use. The unit we drove also had a heads-up display (HUD) that projects onto the inside of the windscreen. It is, by far, the largest of its kind that we’ve seen in a car. Oh, Mercedes’ dynamic ambient lighting in 64 colours is standard in the CLE.

In addition, the front seats were developed exclusively for the CLE. The items in the CLE we drove featured cooling and heating, the former used on the 28-degree hot day in the Kingdom. We found them extremely comfortable on the 200-odd km drive from the KZN South Coast back to King Shaka Airport. On that, less-than-demanding route it felt as though the CLE would be an ideal companion on a long-distance journey, say between Jo’burg and the Cape.

Local Range

Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA) offers two derivatives of the CLE Coupe at the time of launch. Both are powered by inline four-cylinder petrol engines. These 2,0-litre turbocharged units are badged CLE200 and CLE300. The latter produces 190 kW/400 N.m while the 200 derivative offers 150 kW/320 N.m. In both cases there is also a mild-hybrid electrical system for added oomph. The e-motor provides 17 kW/205 N.m into the equation. A nine-speed automatic transmission sends power to the rear wheels in true GT-car fashion.

Mercedes’ press material says that the CLE has a top speed of 250 km/h and can sprint from rest to 100 km/h in 6,2 seconds. The lesser-powered sibling has a top speed of 240 km/h and completes the benchmark acceleration test in 7,4 seconds. It’s worth noting that there is already an AMG variant available abroad, called the CLE53, which you can read about by clicking here. There was no word from MB SA as to when/if this high-performance version will come to SA.

On the Road

We got to experience the CLE300 at the recent event. The route was pretty much all motorway, which is where this model shines. As we mentioned, the sensations are that of a GT car. The CLE300 seemed waft along without any fuss, isolated from the world outside. The turbocharged four and nine-speed auto allow you cruise along at sedate pace, or punch it to make quick progress. However, the noises from the engine room are rather uninspiring. We’d expect a car with these brawny looks to be more sonorous. The route precluded any dynamic exploration of the car. We’ll tackle that when we receive a test unit for review.

Summary

The Mercedes-Benz CLE Coupe is a worthy addition to the Mercedes range. We are fans of the styling and the overall execution of the interior. As petrolheads we’d prefer more power, which is probably on the cards in the shape of the CLE53. Reports suggest that there is also a CLE63 on its way. The two-door version will supposedly forego the four-pot and massive battery pack for a twin-turbo V8 that is capable of producing 430 kW. That will make it a proper foil for the BMW M4. Now, that, is a CLE we can’t wait to drive.

CLE Coupe SA Pricing

CLE200 R1 355 350
CLE300 R1 430 650