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Motor 1
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Motor 1
Mercedes-AMG CLE53 Cabriolet: The Good and the Bad
These days, convertibles are a rare breed, let alone convertibles with actual performance to boot. Most of them died decades ago, never to be seen again. The 2025 Mercedes-AMG CLE53 Cabriolet, then, is one of the last examples of a dying breed. The CLE53 has all the qualities that make a mid-range AMG great: A silky smooth engine, excellent cornering abilities, and a luxurious cabin loaded with technology. Add to that unlimited headroom, and Mercedes-AMG managed to produce a genuinely fun, open-top performance car. Not many automakers can say they still have one of those. Quick Specs 2025 Mercedes-AMG CLE53 Cabriolet Engine Turbocharged 3.0-Liter Inline-Six Hybrid Output 443 Horsepower / 413 Pound-Feet 0-60 MPH 4.4 Seconds Base Price / As Tested $83,750 / $93,150 (est.) The Good Photo by: Jeff Perez / Motor1 Lovely Powertrain Excellent Cornering Abilities Premium Cabin No Roof Convertible or not, the CLE53's powertrain is sublime. The turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six mild-hybrid setup makes 443 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque, which sends the sporty convertible to 60 miles per hour in a respectable 4.4 seconds (or 4.2 seconds with the optional Race Start package, which includes launch control). The top speed is limited to 155 mph. It's managed via a nine-speed automatic transmission, and power is sent to all four wheels. It's a punchy setup. The CLE53 Cab rips off the line and races to 60 with impressive acceleration. There's an immediate burst of torque from the mild-hybrid setup, while the inline-six is sumptuously smooth up to redline. The nine-speed shifts quickly, responding at a moment's notice when you tug at the paddles. In the corners, the CLE53 exhibits excellent body control. The suspension is tight and the steering is quick; Mercedes added a good bit of extra rigidity to the chassis to make up for the lost roof, and it works wonders. Photo by: Jeff Perez / Motor1 Photo by: Jeff Perez / Motor1 If you've been in any modern Mercedes, the CLE53's cabin should look familiar. There's a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster ahead of the steering wheel and an 11.9-inch touchscreen on the dash, both running the latest version of the brand's MBUX software. No Hyperscreen , thankfully. One thing you'll get in the CLE53 Cabrio that you won't find in any of Benz's hardtops is the ability to tilt the screen to avoid glare. The CLE53's screen tilts at up to 40 degrees to keep your view unobstructed, even in the brightest environments. It's a pretty neat feature. The Bad Photo by: Jeff Perez / Motor1 A Little Stiff Clunky Software For as expertly as the suspension handles tight corners, it can be a little rocky for everyday use. In either Sport or Sport+ mode, the ride stiffens up and sends more of those road imperfections to your rump. Every piece of broken pavement is transmitted to your backside; thankfully, Comfort mode tones down the ride harshness significantly. On the infotainment side, MBUX works well enough, with a clean home screen and crisp, modern graphics. But don't go digging too deep into the screen while driving. There are so many options that trying to access even basic functions while on the move is a dangerous task. Otherwise, it's hard to find fault with the CLE53 Cab. At $83,750 to start, it's certainly not cheap, asking more than the 386-hp BMW M440i Convertible ($74,225). But the Benz is significantly less than the BMW M4 Competition droptop ($97,175). In that respect, you won't find much better for the price. Competitors BMW M440i Convertible More Pros And Cons GMC Hummer EV 3X: The Good and the Bad Ram 1500 RHO: The Good and the Bad 2025 Mercedes-AMG CLE53 Cabriolet Engine Turbocharged 3.0-Liter Inline-Six Mild-Hybrid Output 443 Horsepower / 413 Pound-Feet Transmission Nine-Speed Automatic Drive Type All-Wheel Drive Speed 0-60 MPH 4.2 / 4.4 Seconds Maximum speed 155 Miles Per Hour Weight 4,597 Pounds Efficiency 19 City / 26 Highway / 22 Combined Seating Capacity 4 Cargo Volume 9.6 Cubic Feet Base Price $83,750 As-Tested Price $93,150 (est.) On Sale Now Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
Auto Express
06-05-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Express
New Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 Cabriolet 2025 review: performance to match its looks
While the latest C 63 has driven into a plug-in hybrid cul de sac, the Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 offers the kind of driving experience that AMG buyers will be familiar with. The hybrid tech makes up far less of the powertrain, so you can revel in the sound and power of the six-cylinder engine, especially in Cabriolet guise. Sharp looks and decent all-round performance complete the package, but at a hefty price. Advertisement - Article continues below The latest Mercedes-AMG C 63 caused consternation among fans of the brand. Gone was the twin-turbo V8 of the previous model, replaced by a plug-in hybrid powertrain based upon a 2.0-litre turbo unit. To say it wasn't very well received is a bit of an understatement, because while it was rapid, the PHEV element had sucked the soul out of the flagship model. With the arrival of the new CLE to replace both the C-Class and E-Class Coupé and Cabriolet ranges, we were expecting a CLE 63 variant to join the line-up, too, but for now the top of the range is this, the CLE 53. While the C-Class AMG models stick with four-cylinder power (for now), the CLE versions come with Mercedes' turbocharged in-line six and the mild-hybrid system used on a range of the company's other models. The CLE 53 doesn't carry the badge, but it's been given an aggressive look that's in keeping with past two-door versions of the C 63 AMG. There are swollen wheelarches, and the AMG version is 75mm wider than the standard CLE. It features the obligatory big 20-inch wheels wrapped in low-profile tyres front and rear, while upgrading to the Night Edition, as tested here, brings a matt-black finish with a machined edge. The Night Edition also adds gloss black exterior trim, while AMG's signature Panamericana grille completes the makeover when compared with the standard CLE. Advertisement - Article continues below Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below View CX-5 View Tucson View Captur View C-HR The 3.0-litre turbocharged straight-six packs 443bhp, so it's on a par with old V8-powered AMG models, while the hybrid element of the powertrain is designed to improve its responses as well as the efficiency. Claimed economy of 29.4mpg for the drop-top model doesn't sound promising, but it's around 5mpg better than the last C 63 AMG Cabrio achieved. The system is smooth and pretty unobtrusive, too, with an easy and smooth stop-start action when coming to a halt and pulling away. The straight-six has a distinctive note, with a hint of a rumble familiar from AMG's V8 machines. Off the line, the hybrid system uses a compressor to help spool up the turbo for faster responses, and with four-wheel-drive traction at its disposal, the drop-top CLE manages 0-62mph in 4.4 seconds, just two tenths slower than the Coupé. You need to select the Sport or Sport Plus driving modes to make the most of the drive system, because Comfort offers a more relaxed approach. In this mode and off the throttle, it can take the powertrain a moment or two to sort itself out before accelerating away. There are no such issues in the sportier settings, while the standard-fit adaptive dampers add a firmness to the ride that emphasises the car's dynamic character. Advertisement - Article continues below Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below The steering feels meaty and the chassis responds keenly, but as ever with a convertible, the extra weight of the drop top and strengthening (110kg on top of the two-tonne Coupé) mean this car is better suited to cruising. But that's something the CLE is adept at, top up or down. The cabin is hushed even at motorway speeds, while opening the fabric roof takes just 20 seconds (at up to 37mph), allowing you to enjoy the exhaust note. Mercedes' excellent Airscarf neck warmer helps keep you comfy, while the Aircap pop-up header rail means the cabin is largely unruffled by the breeze even at 60mph. And, of course, the cabin is built to the standard you would expect from Mercedes, with plenty of premium materials, metallic switchgear, multicoloured ambient lighting and even a central touchscreen that moves between 15 and 40 degrees to reduce reflections when the top is down. The Night Edition adds carbon-fibre trim, a head-up display, a Burmester sound system and massage seats, but there's a hefty price to pay for it – at £85,000 it's a £7,000 hike over the most expensive non-AMG CLE 450, although it does look more purposeful and delivers a sportier drive. Model: Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 Cabriolet Night Edition Price: £84,485 Powertrain: 3.0-litre 6cyl in-line turbo mild-hybrid Power/torque: 443bhp (+22bhp hybrid)/560Nm Transmission: Nine-speed automatic, four-wheel drive 0-62mph: 4.4 seconds Top speed: 155mph Economy/CO2: 29.4mpg/219g/km Size (L/W/H): 4,853/1,935/1,435mm On sale: Now Ford Fiesta set to return? Icon could be reborn with a little help from Volkswagen Ford Fiesta set to return? Icon could be reborn with a little help from Volkswagen The Ford Fiesta could be coming back from the dead, and our exclusive image previews how it might look New Renault 4 2025 review: as good as the Renault 5 with the bonus of extra space New Renault 4 2025 review: as good as the Renault 5 with the bonus of extra space The new Renault 4 takes everything that's good about the Renault 5 and adds extra cabin and boot space Car Deal of the Day: The almighty Hyundai Ioniq 5 N for under £500 per month Car Deal of the Day: The almighty Hyundai Ioniq 5 N for under £500 per month Our Deal of the Day for 4 May is the reigning Auto Express Performance Car of the Year
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Mercedes Officials Reportedly Deny AMG C63 Will Go Back to V-8 Power
It's only been a week since Autocar reported the Mercedes-AMG C63 would switch from its four-cylinder PHEV powertrain to a V8, but a new report from Wards Auto is already splashing cold water on the idea. The conflicting report, issued March 3, cites senior Mercedes officials denying the rumors that a V-8 will find its way into the current generation C63. Which report is true? Who knows — and even if AMG is planning on cramming a V-8 into the C63, it's likely any questioning on the matter will be brushed off to not dissuade folks from buying the current four-cylinder PHEV car. As a reminder, this is the official statement Mercedes provided Road & Track when questioned about the V8 rumors last week: 'Mercedes-AMG is developing a new V-8 engine. However, please understand we do not discuss future product plans." One future product plan Mercedes did reveal to Wards, though, is that a new mild-hybrid V-8 engine will debut in the CLE-Class Coupe and Cabriolet. This news confirms part of Autocar's report from the other week, where it was suggested the AMG CLE63 would be the first model to enjoy AMG's new eight-cylinder engine. This new report is also consistent with the rumor that the new V-8 will switch from a cross-plane to flat-plane crank design. It's going to be based on the current 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 architecture, but the flat-plane crank should give it a significantly different character than current and past AMG V-8s: expect a higher-revving engine with a higher-pitched tone due to this new design. Plus, its more compact size will allow Mercedes to fit the V-8 into cars that may not have been engineered for them from the outset. Think both C63 and GLC63, two fresh AMG models that made the switch from eight- to four-cylinder power this time around. We'll need to just wait and see at this point concerning the C63's fate. With one report claiming one thing and another suggesting the exact opposite, it's a toss-up as to whether or not this new motor eventually worms its way under the C63's hood. You Might Also Like You Need a Torque Wrench in Your Toolbox Tested: Best Car Interior Cleaners The Man Who Signs Every Car
