2024 Mercedes AMG CLE 63 Coupe Testing and Exhaust Sound

In a move towards simplification, Mercedes has unveiled its strategy to consolidate its range by reducing the roster of compact vehicles and phasing out several other models. The SLC, S-Class Coupe, S-Class Convertible, and AMG GT Roadster have already been discontinued, and the brand is gearing up to eliminate further two-door options in the near future. It is widely speculated that the C-Class and E-Class coupe and cabriolet variants will transform into the CLE Coupe and Convertible.

Envisioned as the spiritual progeny of the CLK, the CLE is expected to emerge as a C-Class-oriented model boasting a price point leaning towards the E-Class. Assuming it retains a mechanical affinity to the C-Class, Mercedes will exclusively market the coupe and convertible twosome with four-cylinder engines, encompassing the high-performance C43 and C63 models. Those seeking more cylinders will be directed towards the next-generation E-Class, as it is projected to resist the downsizing wave.

Set to rival the BMW 4 Series and Audi A5, the forthcoming CLE is anticipated to outsize the C-Class while remaining more compact than the E-Class two-door editions it aims to supplant. Automotive sleuths have observed the convertible sporting a fabric cover, a logical choice considering hardtops are bulkier and occupy more room when retracted. The interior is predicted to be an amalgamation of the current C-Class W206 and the soon-to-launch E-Class W214, slated for its unveiling on April 25.

According to sources, the esteemed German luxury carmaker intends to debut the CLE Coupe within the year, while the convertible iteration is expected to follow in 2024. High-performance AMG versions for both body styles are also slated for release next year. These novel inclusions will be positioned beneath the upcoming next-generation AMG GT Coupe and the already accessible SL.