AMG lays hands on Mercedes’ replacement for the C-Class and E-Class coupes.

WITH a week to go before New Zealand begins sale of a volume-critical AMG car, the C63 sedan, head office is showing off a two-door adjunct model, incoming here next year.

The CLE 53 coupe just unveiled by Mercedes-AMG in Germany, and set to get here between April and June, actually has a dual role.

It is designed to replace second-tier performance-tuned two-door versions of both the C-Class and the E-Class, which in outgoing form has the ’43’ designation.

It is expected to be joined by a yet-to-be-seen CLE 63, that will be the top-tier stormer.

Interestingly, whereas the C42 and C63 sedans have now gone to a four-cylinder 2.0-litre petrol, the second with heftier electric assistance, the CLE 53 uses a six-cylinder petrol, with mild hybrid involvement.

Outputs of 330kW and and 560Nm of torque (with an overboost function to 600Nm) are given for the CLE 53.

Those figures are 20kW and 60Nm above the stated output for the C43 sedan, but 170kW and 460Nm shy of the stated power and torque for the C63.

The CLE 53’s engine is a mild-hybrid with a 17kW integrated starter generator and a 48 volt motor.

The old Mercedes-AMG C 43 Coupe took 4.7 seconds to go from 0 to 100kmh and the E 53 Coupe took 4.4 seconds. The CLE 53 is quicker, taking 4.2 seconds to complete the sprint.

Power is sent to all four wheels through a nine-speed automatic transmission.

AMG has fitted big four-piston front brake calipers with perforated discs and the drivetrain options include ‘Sport Plus’ driving mode too, which alters the engine, steering, transmission and chassis.

The car has rear-wheel steer as standard with up to 2.5 degrees of movement, which Mercedes claims helps to boost agility and stability.

An adaptive damping system which can either focus on refinement in ‘Comfort’ mode or towards a more engaging feel in ‘Sport’ and ‘Sport Plus’ also features.

Mercedes also creates mainstream CLE editions, in four and six cylinder and diesel as well as petrol.

The 53 has exterior tweaks to stand out from those. There’s an AMG-specific front grille with bespoke inserts, flared front and rear wheel arches which house a wider track (up 58mm in the front and 75mm to the rear), plus 20-inch alloy wheels. I also has quad-exhaust tips.

The interior offers in Nappa leather, the headrests embossed with the AMG logo, and the console features a 12.3-inch driver’s display and 11.9-inch central touchscreen. The driver’s display features a ‘Supersport’ mode which places greater focus on the tachometer. An AMG menu allows a driver to access the car’s data with gear-indicators, a lap timer and G-force metres all on show.

Mercedes Benz NZ says pricing will be revealed closer to national launch.