The Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 is a classy but slightly impractical drive
What is it? The Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 4Matic+ Coupé, to use its slightly comical full name, is the first 'hot-rodded' version of the attractive new CLE, a mid-size coupe that replaces the former C-Class and E-Class two-doors. The AMG has distinct bodywork, gaining wider front and rear fenders (for a wider track), louvres in the front guards, body-coloured spoiler, a different grille and a sportier interior. A Cabriolet version has now joined the fixed roof model.
What does it cost? It's $158,900 plus on-road costs, with the usual opportunities to add more 'fruit'. The Carbon Package gives various carbon-fibre panels and veneers for $8900. The AMG Performance Seat Package is $5400. Many will prefer the excellent standard seats, but some buyers just can't help ticking those boxes.
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News.com.au
12 hours ago
- News.com.au
Review: 2025 Mercedes-AMG E 53 Hybrid
This is the most powerful E-class Mercedes currently makes and perhaps one of the most polarising. The range-topping AMG E 53 Hybrid 4MATIC+ trades in the brand's V8 for a quieter plug-in hybrid powertrain. It's still brutally fast, incredibly expensive and packed with a ton of features, but it's no longer the muscle car it once was. It might be a better car. At just under $199,000 before on-road costs, the E 53 Hybrid now sits at the top of the E-Class tree. Yes, the price has jumped by approximately $26,000 over the outgoing E 53 model. But for context it's also about $50,000 cheaper than the previous-generation E 63 V8. The E 63 S V8 offered 450kW, hit 100km/h in 3.4 seconds and drank fuel like it was free (officially 12L/100km, but double that if you're heavy with the throttle). This one matches the power, offering a combined 450kW of power and 750Nm of torque – doing so with a 3.0 litre six-cylinder engine and electric motor. The sprint is 3.8 seconds, only a fraction slower than the E 63. It sips just 1.7L of fuel per 100km (NEDC tested) but that figure might be a stretch unless you constantly plug in. It's fast, like seriously fast. There's less noise than a V8 but it feels just as responsive. The electric motor alone will get you up to 100km of range, perfect for zipping around the city. Put your foot down in Sports+ and the car really becomes alive, it's confident, composed and definitely not boring. But honestly? you don't even need sports mode, as comfort mode delivers plenty of fun and is just as engaging. With its aggressive stance, crisp AMG lines, and that signature Panamericana grille, this is a sexy car. Inside, it's not your classic Mercedes. The cabin is bold, digital and hi-tech. For some it might be a sensory overload, there's ambient lighting that changes colour, Mercedes MBUX screen, blending a 14.4-inch central display with dual 12.3-inch driver and passenger screens. The passenger screen is cleverly designed to be invisible to the driver – keeping distractions to a minimum. The seats are supportive with heating, ventilation and massage. But the sports seats are firm, a bit too firm for my liking, you can opt for the standard seats. The split panoramic roof is a nice touch and lets in plenty of light. Rear passengers are well catered for and the boot allows 370L of luggage, which is sufficient for a few overnight bags or small suitcases. The Audi S6 and BMW M550i are obvious rivals but lack the same blend of plug-in tech and speed. I don't think the AMG E 53 Hybrid is trying to replace the V8. It's a modern kind of AMG – one that fits the brand well.
The Advertiser
19 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Mercedes-Benz admits its G-Class EV is a "complete flop"
The first all-electric version of one of Mercedes-Benz's most iconic models reportedly isn't selling well. Launched last week in Australia, the Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ Technology, as the G-Class electric vehicle (EV) is called, was revealed in 2024 as the production version of the 2021 EQG concept. While the G-Class (often referred to as the G-Wagen or Geländewagen) has long been a favourite of celebrities, for many years it's also been inextricably linked with the V8 engine under the bonnet of the brawny Mercedes-AMG G63, which costs a cool $365,900 before on-road costs. The move to electric power in the lengthily named G580 with EQ Technology has reportedly not only been met with a collective yawn from consumers, despite its significantly lower starting price ($249,000 in Australia), but could also impact the German automaker's future product plans. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. "The car is sitting like lead at dealers; it's a complete flop," an unnamed Mercedes-Benz executive told German business newspaper Handelsblatt. "People want a real G-Class – with six or eight cylinders," reads another quote from an anonymous source. Another insider had a more glass-half-full explanation, telling the media outlet: "It's a niche model; production numbers are very low." According to the German publication, Mercedes-Benz is now considering launching the upcoming 'little G' – a smaller SUV with similarly boxy styling – with a petrol engine instead of offering it exclusively with electric power. This model is due for launch in 2027. This bad publicity over weak demand for the G-Class EV follows the response to the plug-in hybrid Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Performance, which has been dogged by reports of weak demand and heavy discounting in markets like Germany, as well as repeated rumours of a return to V8 power (or at least the adoption of a turbocharged inline six) for AMG's arch-rival to the BMW M3. Unlike the C63, in which a four-cylinder plug-in hybrid powertrain completely replaced a twin-turbo V8, Mercedes-Benz's electric G-Wagen didn't come at the expense of much-loved combustion-powered variants of the legendary off-road wagon. To that end, Mercedes-Benz can adjust its production mix to match buyer demand. "Mercedes-Benz is prepared for all market scenarios. Into the 2030s, we can flexibly offer vehicles with both a fully electric drivetrain or an electrified high-tech combustion engine," a Mercedes-Benz spokesperson told Motor1. "Our customers decide what suits them best. This applies also for the G-Class." This year to the end of May, Mercedes-Benz has delivered 23 examples of the newly-released G-Class EV in Australia, compared to 133 combustion-powered variants in the same period. According to Handelsblatt, Mercedes-Benz had sold 1450 G-Class EVs worldwide to the end of April, against around 9700 petrol and diesel G-Class vehicles. Despite this, a spokesperson told the publication "[we are] on target with our sales figures". And despite its high-tech powertrain, the electric G-Class is cheaper than both the combustion-powered G450d and G500 in Germany, though it also lacks a towbar option and has a maximum payload of only 415kg. But Mercedes-Benz hasn't offered a non-AMG, non-electric G-Class in Australia since it dropped the G400d in 2022, hence the $115,000-plus price gap between the G580 and G63 here. Powering the G580 are four electric motors capable of producing up to 432kW and 1164Nm, propelling the circa-3000kg SUV from 0-100km/h in 4.7 seconds, and allowing it to perform 'tank turns' on the spot. A huge 116kWh battery supplies power to the blocky EV, which has a claimed driving range of 473km on the WLTP test cycle. The twin-turbo V8-powered G63 AMG, in contrast, produces 430kW and 850Nm. It's good for a 0-100km/h time of 4.4 seconds, thanks in large part to weighing around 400kg less than the electric model. MORE: Everything Mercedes-Benz G-Class Content originally sourced from: The first all-electric version of one of Mercedes-Benz's most iconic models reportedly isn't selling well. Launched last week in Australia, the Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ Technology, as the G-Class electric vehicle (EV) is called, was revealed in 2024 as the production version of the 2021 EQG concept. While the G-Class (often referred to as the G-Wagen or Geländewagen) has long been a favourite of celebrities, for many years it's also been inextricably linked with the V8 engine under the bonnet of the brawny Mercedes-AMG G63, which costs a cool $365,900 before on-road costs. The move to electric power in the lengthily named G580 with EQ Technology has reportedly not only been met with a collective yawn from consumers, despite its significantly lower starting price ($249,000 in Australia), but could also impact the German automaker's future product plans. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. "The car is sitting like lead at dealers; it's a complete flop," an unnamed Mercedes-Benz executive told German business newspaper Handelsblatt. "People want a real G-Class – with six or eight cylinders," reads another quote from an anonymous source. Another insider had a more glass-half-full explanation, telling the media outlet: "It's a niche model; production numbers are very low." According to the German publication, Mercedes-Benz is now considering launching the upcoming 'little G' – a smaller SUV with similarly boxy styling – with a petrol engine instead of offering it exclusively with electric power. This model is due for launch in 2027. This bad publicity over weak demand for the G-Class EV follows the response to the plug-in hybrid Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Performance, which has been dogged by reports of weak demand and heavy discounting in markets like Germany, as well as repeated rumours of a return to V8 power (or at least the adoption of a turbocharged inline six) for AMG's arch-rival to the BMW M3. Unlike the C63, in which a four-cylinder plug-in hybrid powertrain completely replaced a twin-turbo V8, Mercedes-Benz's electric G-Wagen didn't come at the expense of much-loved combustion-powered variants of the legendary off-road wagon. To that end, Mercedes-Benz can adjust its production mix to match buyer demand. "Mercedes-Benz is prepared for all market scenarios. Into the 2030s, we can flexibly offer vehicles with both a fully electric drivetrain or an electrified high-tech combustion engine," a Mercedes-Benz spokesperson told Motor1. "Our customers decide what suits them best. This applies also for the G-Class." This year to the end of May, Mercedes-Benz has delivered 23 examples of the newly-released G-Class EV in Australia, compared to 133 combustion-powered variants in the same period. According to Handelsblatt, Mercedes-Benz had sold 1450 G-Class EVs worldwide to the end of April, against around 9700 petrol and diesel G-Class vehicles. Despite this, a spokesperson told the publication "[we are] on target with our sales figures". And despite its high-tech powertrain, the electric G-Class is cheaper than both the combustion-powered G450d and G500 in Germany, though it also lacks a towbar option and has a maximum payload of only 415kg. But Mercedes-Benz hasn't offered a non-AMG, non-electric G-Class in Australia since it dropped the G400d in 2022, hence the $115,000-plus price gap between the G580 and G63 here. Powering the G580 are four electric motors capable of producing up to 432kW and 1164Nm, propelling the circa-3000kg SUV from 0-100km/h in 4.7 seconds, and allowing it to perform 'tank turns' on the spot. A huge 116kWh battery supplies power to the blocky EV, which has a claimed driving range of 473km on the WLTP test cycle. The twin-turbo V8-powered G63 AMG, in contrast, produces 430kW and 850Nm. It's good for a 0-100km/h time of 4.4 seconds, thanks in large part to weighing around 400kg less than the electric model. MORE: Everything Mercedes-Benz G-Class Content originally sourced from: The first all-electric version of one of Mercedes-Benz's most iconic models reportedly isn't selling well. Launched last week in Australia, the Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ Technology, as the G-Class electric vehicle (EV) is called, was revealed in 2024 as the production version of the 2021 EQG concept. While the G-Class (often referred to as the G-Wagen or Geländewagen) has long been a favourite of celebrities, for many years it's also been inextricably linked with the V8 engine under the bonnet of the brawny Mercedes-AMG G63, which costs a cool $365,900 before on-road costs. The move to electric power in the lengthily named G580 with EQ Technology has reportedly not only been met with a collective yawn from consumers, despite its significantly lower starting price ($249,000 in Australia), but could also impact the German automaker's future product plans. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. "The car is sitting like lead at dealers; it's a complete flop," an unnamed Mercedes-Benz executive told German business newspaper Handelsblatt. "People want a real G-Class – with six or eight cylinders," reads another quote from an anonymous source. Another insider had a more glass-half-full explanation, telling the media outlet: "It's a niche model; production numbers are very low." According to the German publication, Mercedes-Benz is now considering launching the upcoming 'little G' – a smaller SUV with similarly boxy styling – with a petrol engine instead of offering it exclusively with electric power. This model is due for launch in 2027. This bad publicity over weak demand for the G-Class EV follows the response to the plug-in hybrid Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Performance, which has been dogged by reports of weak demand and heavy discounting in markets like Germany, as well as repeated rumours of a return to V8 power (or at least the adoption of a turbocharged inline six) for AMG's arch-rival to the BMW M3. Unlike the C63, in which a four-cylinder plug-in hybrid powertrain completely replaced a twin-turbo V8, Mercedes-Benz's electric G-Wagen didn't come at the expense of much-loved combustion-powered variants of the legendary off-road wagon. To that end, Mercedes-Benz can adjust its production mix to match buyer demand. "Mercedes-Benz is prepared for all market scenarios. Into the 2030s, we can flexibly offer vehicles with both a fully electric drivetrain or an electrified high-tech combustion engine," a Mercedes-Benz spokesperson told Motor1. "Our customers decide what suits them best. This applies also for the G-Class." This year to the end of May, Mercedes-Benz has delivered 23 examples of the newly-released G-Class EV in Australia, compared to 133 combustion-powered variants in the same period. According to Handelsblatt, Mercedes-Benz had sold 1450 G-Class EVs worldwide to the end of April, against around 9700 petrol and diesel G-Class vehicles. Despite this, a spokesperson told the publication "[we are] on target with our sales figures". And despite its high-tech powertrain, the electric G-Class is cheaper than both the combustion-powered G450d and G500 in Germany, though it also lacks a towbar option and has a maximum payload of only 415kg. But Mercedes-Benz hasn't offered a non-AMG, non-electric G-Class in Australia since it dropped the G400d in 2022, hence the $115,000-plus price gap between the G580 and G63 here. Powering the G580 are four electric motors capable of producing up to 432kW and 1164Nm, propelling the circa-3000kg SUV from 0-100km/h in 4.7 seconds, and allowing it to perform 'tank turns' on the spot. A huge 116kWh battery supplies power to the blocky EV, which has a claimed driving range of 473km on the WLTP test cycle. The twin-turbo V8-powered G63 AMG, in contrast, produces 430kW and 850Nm. It's good for a 0-100km/h time of 4.4 seconds, thanks in large part to weighing around 400kg less than the electric model. MORE: Everything Mercedes-Benz G-Class Content originally sourced from: The first all-electric version of one of Mercedes-Benz's most iconic models reportedly isn't selling well. Launched last week in Australia, the Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ Technology, as the G-Class electric vehicle (EV) is called, was revealed in 2024 as the production version of the 2021 EQG concept. While the G-Class (often referred to as the G-Wagen or Geländewagen) has long been a favourite of celebrities, for many years it's also been inextricably linked with the V8 engine under the bonnet of the brawny Mercedes-AMG G63, which costs a cool $365,900 before on-road costs. The move to electric power in the lengthily named G580 with EQ Technology has reportedly not only been met with a collective yawn from consumers, despite its significantly lower starting price ($249,000 in Australia), but could also impact the German automaker's future product plans. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. "The car is sitting like lead at dealers; it's a complete flop," an unnamed Mercedes-Benz executive told German business newspaper Handelsblatt. "People want a real G-Class – with six or eight cylinders," reads another quote from an anonymous source. Another insider had a more glass-half-full explanation, telling the media outlet: "It's a niche model; production numbers are very low." According to the German publication, Mercedes-Benz is now considering launching the upcoming 'little G' – a smaller SUV with similarly boxy styling – with a petrol engine instead of offering it exclusively with electric power. This model is due for launch in 2027. This bad publicity over weak demand for the G-Class EV follows the response to the plug-in hybrid Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Performance, which has been dogged by reports of weak demand and heavy discounting in markets like Germany, as well as repeated rumours of a return to V8 power (or at least the adoption of a turbocharged inline six) for AMG's arch-rival to the BMW M3. Unlike the C63, in which a four-cylinder plug-in hybrid powertrain completely replaced a twin-turbo V8, Mercedes-Benz's electric G-Wagen didn't come at the expense of much-loved combustion-powered variants of the legendary off-road wagon. To that end, Mercedes-Benz can adjust its production mix to match buyer demand. "Mercedes-Benz is prepared for all market scenarios. Into the 2030s, we can flexibly offer vehicles with both a fully electric drivetrain or an electrified high-tech combustion engine," a Mercedes-Benz spokesperson told Motor1. "Our customers decide what suits them best. This applies also for the G-Class." This year to the end of May, Mercedes-Benz has delivered 23 examples of the newly-released G-Class EV in Australia, compared to 133 combustion-powered variants in the same period. According to Handelsblatt, Mercedes-Benz had sold 1450 G-Class EVs worldwide to the end of April, against around 9700 petrol and diesel G-Class vehicles. Despite this, a spokesperson told the publication "[we are] on target with our sales figures". And despite its high-tech powertrain, the electric G-Class is cheaper than both the combustion-powered G450d and G500 in Germany, though it also lacks a towbar option and has a maximum payload of only 415kg. But Mercedes-Benz hasn't offered a non-AMG, non-electric G-Class in Australia since it dropped the G400d in 2022, hence the $115,000-plus price gap between the G580 and G63 here. Powering the G580 are four electric motors capable of producing up to 432kW and 1164Nm, propelling the circa-3000kg SUV from 0-100km/h in 4.7 seconds, and allowing it to perform 'tank turns' on the spot. A huge 116kWh battery supplies power to the blocky EV, which has a claimed driving range of 473km on the WLTP test cycle. The twin-turbo V8-powered G63 AMG, in contrast, produces 430kW and 850Nm. It's good for a 0-100km/h time of 4.4 seconds, thanks in large part to weighing around 400kg less than the electric model. MORE: Everything Mercedes-Benz G-Class Content originally sourced from:
Perth Now
21 hours ago
- Perth Now
Mercedes-Benz admits its G-Class EV is a "complete flop"
The first all-electric version of one of Mercedes-Benz's most iconic models reportedly isn't selling well. Launched last week in Australia, the Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ Technology, as the G-Class electric vehicle (EV) is called, was revealed in 2024 as the production version of the 2021 EQG concept. While the G-Class (often referred to as the G-Wagen or Geländewagen) has long been a favourite of celebrities, for many years it's also been inextricably linked with the V8 engine under the bonnet of the brawny Mercedes-AMG G63, which costs a cool $365,900 before on-road costs. The move to electric power in the lengthily named G580 with EQ Technology has reportedly not only been met with a collective yawn from consumers, despite its significantly lower starting price ($249,000 in Australia), but could also impact the German automaker's future product plans. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Supplied Credit: CarExpert 'The car is sitting like lead at dealers; it's a complete flop,' an unnamed Mercedes-Benz executive told German business newspaper Handelsblatt. 'People want a real G-Class – with six or eight cylinders,' reads another quote from an anonymous source. Another insider had a more glass-half-full explanation, telling the media outlet: 'It's a niche model; production numbers are very low.' According to the German publication, Mercedes-Benz is now considering launching the upcoming 'little G' – a smaller SUV with similarly boxy styling – with a petrol engine instead of offering it exclusively with electric power. This model is due for launch in 2027. Supplied Credit: CarExpert This bad publicity over weak demand for the G-Class EV follows the response to the plug-in hybrid Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Performance, which has been dogged by reports of weak demand and heavy discounting in markets like Germany, as well as repeated rumours of a return to V8 power (or at least the adoption of a turbocharged inline six) for AMG's arch-rival to the BMW M3. Unlike the C63, in which a four-cylinder plug-in hybrid powertrain completely replaced a twin-turbo V8, Mercedes-Benz's electric G-Wagen didn't come at the expense of much-loved combustion-powered variants of the legendary off-road wagon. To that end, Mercedes-Benz can adjust its production mix to match buyer demand. 'Mercedes-Benz is prepared for all market scenarios. Into the 2030s, we can flexibly offer vehicles with both a fully electric drivetrain or an electrified high-tech combustion engine,' a Mercedes-Benz spokesperson told Motor1. Supplied Credit: CarExpert 'Our customers decide what suits them best. This applies also for the G-Class.' This year to the end of May, Mercedes-Benz has delivered 23 examples of the newly-released G-Class EV in Australia, compared to 133 combustion-powered variants in the same period. According to Handelsblatt, Mercedes-Benz had sold 1450 G-Class EVs worldwide to the end of April, against around 9700 petrol and diesel G-Class vehicles. Despite this, a spokesperson told the publication '[we are] on target with our sales figures'. And despite its high-tech powertrain, the electric G-Class is cheaper than both the combustion-powered G450d and G500 in Germany, though it also lacks a towbar option and has a maximum payload of only 415kg. Supplied Credit: CarExpert But Mercedes-Benz hasn't offered a non-AMG, non-electric G-Class in Australia since it dropped the G400d in 2022, hence the $115,000-plus price gap between the G580 and G63 here. Powering the G580 are four electric motors capable of producing up to 432kW and 1164Nm, propelling the circa-3000kg SUV from 0-100km/h in 4.7 seconds, and allowing it to perform 'tank turns' on the spot. A huge 116kWh battery supplies power to the blocky EV, which has a claimed driving range of 473km on the WLTP test cycle. The twin-turbo V8-powered G63 AMG, in contrast, produces 430kW and 850Nm. It's good for a 0-100km/h time of 4.4 seconds, thanks in large part to weighing around 400kg less than the electric model. MORE: Everything Mercedes-Benz G-Class
