- Mercedes has revealed the cabriolet version of the new CLE class.
- Replacing the discontinued two-door versions of the C-class and E-class, the CLE-class coupe and convertible are all new for 2024.
- While the new cabin has been revealed for Europe only, a Mercedes-Benz representative confirmed Car and Driver that the model will arrive in the US for the 2024 model year.
When Mercedes introduced the CLE range last summer, it represented a breakup of the automaker’s coupe lineup. The CLE coupe is intended to replace the discontinued C-class and E-class cabins, and now, the CLE range is growing a bit with the introduction of the CLE-class cabin. Although only the European version has been shown so far, a Mercedes-Benz representative confirmed Car and Driver The model will arrive in the United States in 2024. As a coupe, the CLE cabriolet looks chic thanks to its advanced design, and will offer a pair of electric powertrains and an interior that focuses on technology.
Under the Hood
All powertrains available for the CLE Cabriolet include a 48-volt hybrid system, with the electric motor adding 23 horsepower and 148 lb-ft. While Europe gets a diesel option with a less powerful base engine, the North American version of the cabriolet can coming in the same four-cylinder CLE300 and six-cylinder CLE450 options as the coupe.
That means the base CLE300 is powered by the M254 engine, a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four producing 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Stepping up to the CLE450 brings the M256 powertrain, with a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six pushing the power a whopping 375 horsepower and 369 pound-feet.
Offering space for individuality, the softtop is available in black, red, or gray. It is powered and can be closed in less than 20 seconds while driving up to 37 mph. Mercedes’ Aircap wind deflection system and Airscarf ventilation system are common, with the deflection system directing cool air over the front passenger’s heads, with the Airscarf pushing warm air.
Interior Features and Technology
Inside the new CLE cabriolet, the cabin is directly proportional to the coupe. A 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster sits behind the steering wheel, and there’s an 11.9-inch central touchscreen with an angle that can be adjusted from 15 to 40 degrees to prevent glare when the top is lowered. According to Mercedes, the front seats were specially designed for this model and have a reflective coating to prevent the skin from burning in the summer; we tested the same setup in the previous E-class convertible and found that the seats could still get too hot.
As with other new Mercedes models, there is an artificial intelligence assistant that can learn which comfort systems the driver uses at certain times and under certain conditions. Similar to Apple Maps suggesting a route to work or home, the system can do things like automatically turn on the heated seats when the temperature outside is low enough.
No official word yet on pricing for the CLE cabriolet, but Mercedes has just announced pricing for the coupe. Coupes range from $57,650 for the base CLE300 to $69,400 for the CLE450 Pinnacle, and we expect the convertible to carry a premium of a few thousand dollars when it arrives later this year.
Jack Fitzgerald’s passion for cars stems from his still unshaken addiction to Formula 1.
After a short stint as an analyst for a local trade group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in automotive writing. By hunting down his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel to Wisconsin in search of stories in the automotive world before landing his dream job there. Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf.