Does an extra 67bhp and a host of dynamic upgrades give Mercedes’ new two-door the edge over rivals?
Serving as an indirect successor to the E53 Coupé, the hot new CLE 53 Coupé wears the AMG badge but isn’t quite a full-bore, Affalterbach-made model. A new CLE 63 is on its way, but it remains to be seen what it will power it; the C63 saloon fell way short of the mark after it swapped its roaring V8 engine for a four-cylinder plug-in hybrid powertrain.The CLE 53 is a closer rival to the BMW M440i than the BMW M4, but it still looks a lot meaner than regular CLE models and gets a suite of powertrain, suspension and interior upgrades to give it a more dynamic and sporting character. But does this amalgamated C-Class and E-Class AMG model feel like more than just a warmed-up range-topper? Let’s find out.
