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Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 is all about accessing open air, owning your own personal view of the sky above and enjoying the dappled light falling through trees while you ride in comfort. Mercedes-AMG One might be forgiven concluding that the AMG gas-electric powertrain is the central theme of the CLE 53 story. AMG administered a deep-tissue massage to the straight-6 engine with a higher-boost turbocharger, big fuel injectors to squirt copious amounts of fuel with every cycle of the unique AMG pistons, and all further enhanced with a dollop of electric torque. End result is an elegant 4-seat cabriolet capable of dusting off most any muggle machine encountered on downtown or suburban boulevards. Very few companies still market a proper 4-seat cabriolet that offers the pleasures of open air for those stolen moments of freedom. A 4-place German cabrio is a rarity, one I hope we never lose. Note how fully the wheel-tire package fills the wheel well, giving CLE an appropriate performance look. The muscular stance is immediately recognized by those who love performance cars. Mercedes-AMG Toss in AMG-engineered subsystems for suspension, braking and the scripting that weaves all components together and this luxury cabrio becomes an entertaining mountain climber, too, not just an urban-suburban profiler. No, CLE 53 is not a fire-breather like an AMG GT 63 S E or SL 63 S E hybrid supercar with over 1000 lb.-ft. of torque on tap. But with 443 horsepower, CLE 53 performs with style, turning your attack on a favorite bowled and curving highway onramp exhilarating at close of day. Seating position is upright, with ride height of a tallish sedan: lower than an SUV so you must not step upwards, but easier to plop down into than a low-slung sports car or GT. Man or woman, one can always enter and exit with dignity intact. Mercedes-AMG Architecture is in fact the central theme because so very few companies still market a proper 4-seat cabriolet that can offer the pleasures of open air for those stolen moments of freedom. A 4-place German cabrio is a rarity, one I hope we never lose. MORE FOR YOU Aircap is a brilliant aerofoil that deploys along the top of the windshield frame, sending air up and over the passenger compartment in an elegant French curve. Mercedes-AMG During the week, on the drive to downtown, the heavily insulated top ensures a hushed interior, perfect for methodically working through the most critical early-morning phone calls before reaching the parking garage. Seen here is Aircap's partner, the air dam placed between the rear-seat headrests. These panels have been around for several decades, and they prevent the cresting air from back-spilling into the cabin. Combine this air dam with the genius of Aircap and CLE has the equivalent of a roof made of flowing air. Mercedes-AMG First-row seats can be heated to ease a sore lower back, or on warm days, well, the seat bottoms have a ventilation fan to cool matters. Seating position is upright, with ride height of a tallish sedan: lower than an SUV so you must not step upwards, but easier to plop down into than a low-slung sports car or GT. Man or woman, one can always enter and exit with dignity intact. The AMG-enhanced 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine produces 443 hp and 413 lb-ft of torque (443 lb-ft in overboost for up to 10 seconds) thanks to an exhaust gas turbocharger and electric auxiliary compressor. An integrated starter generator provides support at lower engine speeds with 23 hp and 151 lb-ft and also feeds the 48-volt electrical system. Power is delivered via an AMG SPEEDSHIFT® TCT 9G transmission and AMG Performance 4MATIC+ fully variable all-wheel drive. Mercedes-AMG When it’s time to play, time for blowing out cobwebs, simply pull the fingertip lever on the center console to initiate the ballet of dancing canvas, rear bodywork opening like a clamshell, the top folding in a matter of seconds, the rear cowl and two small side panels serving as curtain fall. In a moment of time, the heavens are open. CLE 53 and its sibling the CLE 450 are pleasure craft well within the reach of most professionals. These cars are an easy indulgence to compensate for the hours screen time and in-person meetings. Mercedes-AMG And then there’s Aircap, a brilliant aerofoil that deploys along the top of the windshield frame, sending air up and over the passenger compartment in an elegant French curve. Yes, Aircap adds a little weight and complexity with its electric motors and robustly proportioned and squatty little scissor hinges, but for a few pounds the return on investment is priceless. AMG CLE 53 Cabriolet is equipped standard with AMG RIDE CONTROL suspension, developed by the AMG engineers in Affalterbach. With damper tuning to enhance sporting capability, and adaptive adjustable damping, the steel spring suspension combines excellent driving dynamics with a high level of ride comfort. The damping on each wheel adapts quickly and precisely to the current driving situation and road conditions. This is accomplished via separate valves in the dampers for rebound and compression. Distinctive damper maps can be selected: “Comfort,” “Sport” and “Sport+." Mercedes-AMG Aircap up, one senses the change in airflow above, and the near stillness of the air in the passenger cabin. It’s visceral, and ever so slightly aural, adding a measure of excitement. During the week, on the drive to downtown, the heavily insulated top ensures a hushed interior, perfect for methodically working through the most critical early-morning phone calls before reaching the parking garage. Mercedes-AMG Aircap is an obvious evolutionary adaptation of the electro-mechanical engineering employed with multi-position rear spoilers found on most high-performance cars, those deployable winglets that look like modern art tea trays that deploy from the rear bodywork to generate downward force and help keep rear tires firmly planted to the road at triple-digit speeds. Center touchscreen tilts, hinged at the bottom, helping to reduce glare on the screen. Here in California, it proves much more useful than one might assume. At the trailing edge of the center console in the alloy band are the three control buttons for the convertible top and Aircap aerofoil. Mercedes-AMG But here again, just like thoughtful enhancements to the straight-6 powertrain, the Aircap engineering fits the needs of the car, helping fulfill its true purpose. CLE 53 and its sibling the CLE 450 are pleasure craft well within the reach of most professionals. These cars are an easy indulgence to compensate for the hours screen time and in-person meetings. Nice to find in your parking garage for the drive home. Rear clamshell bodywork is obvious here. Also note diffuser under the bumper, and four exhaust tips. Also note the long wheelbase for a 2-door, which is why the rear seats are comfortable for people of median height, although it must be noted it's always easier climbing into he rear buckets with the top down. Mercedes-AMG Aircap’s partner is the air dam placed between the rear-seat headrests. These panels have been around for several decades, and they prevent cresting air from back-spilling into the cabin. You will know backspill from time in lesser convertibles when forceful air whips at your hair and causes considerable rushing making it difficult to hold a conversation. Combine this air dam with the genius of Aircap and CLE has the equivalent of a roof made of flowing air. Easy to hold a conversation, top-down. AMG high-performance brake system features 14.6 discs with 4-piston calipers at the front and 14.2-inch discs with at the rear. Note the gummy Michelin tires. Mercedes-AMG CLE is all about accessing open air, owning your own personal the view of the sky above and dappled light falling through trees while you ride in comfort. Aircap is in fact the best part of the story, an absolute perfect addition to the en plein air experience. If you test drive one of these cars at a dealer, insist that they put the top down and insist that they demonstrate the difference made by the Aircap. It's an ingenious aerofoil, born of the wind tunnel. Imagining the engineers playing with their smoke flow and adjusting the shape of the panel and its angle of attack, and therefore the little hinged mechanisms that lift the foil, is a delightful daydream. AMG Performance 4MATIC+ is a fully variable all-wheel drive system that can transition between rear- and all-wheel drive continuously. Engine power is distributed between the four wheels based on the driving situation. Mercedes-AMG Editorial StandardsReprints & Permissions
