2024 Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 Coupe Arriving Summer 2024 With Mild-Hybrid Turbo I6 Muscle

Fancy as in exhaust gas turbocharger and electric auxiliary compressor, a combo that results in 443 horsepower and 413 pound-feet (560 Nm) of torque. In overboost mode, AMG promises 443 pound-feet (600 Nm) for up to 10 seconds at a time.

However, said engine is not assembled by hand in Affalterbach. The German automaker clearly states "AMG-enhanced 3.0L inline six-cylinder turbo" in the attached press release, meaning that AMG had little to say in the basic design of the powerplant. What's more, BMW M has extracted a lot more power (553) and torque (479) from the S58 twin-turbo I6 of the M4 Coupe/M4 CSL/3.0 CSL without resorting to 48-volt mild hybridization.

Adding insult to injury, even Stellantis has a more powerful non-electrified lump in the form of the 3.0-liter Hurricane. Thus far, the punchiest application is the high-output version of the Dodge Charger SIXPACK due to 550 ponies. The Ram 1500 RHO, by comparison, makes 540.

Turning our attention back to the 2024 Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 Coupe, its 48-volt integrated starter generator supports the internal combustion engine at low engine speeds with 23 horsepower and 151 pound-feet (205 Nm). As with every self-respecting modern AMG based on a rear-biased platform, the automatic transmission uses a wet start-off clutch rather than a conventional torque converter.

Electronically limited to 155 miles per hour (250 kilometers per hour), the German coupe hits 60 miles per hour (97 kilometers per hour) in approximately 4.0 seconds flat. While on the subject of vehicle speed, rear-axle steering operates in two distinct ways. Up to 60 miles per hour, the rear wheels turn up to 2.5 degrees in the opposite direction to the front wheels to improve agility and make parking that much easier. Above 60 miles per hour, the rears and fronts turn in parallel, with the rear wheels maxing out at 0.7 degrees.

CLE 53 Coupe further boasts three-stage AMG parameter steering, adaptive dampers with three settings, and rear-wheel drive in Drift mode. If you're older than 30, you are most likely appalled by Merc's name for this rear-wheel-drive setting. BMW M, by comparison, calls it 2WD mode in go-faster vehicles equipped with M xDrive.

A good-looking car with a pretty nice interior that oozes performance, this fellow can be further improved by spending a few more bucks on the AMG DYNAMIC PLUS Package. Unfortunately, pricing information has yet to be finalized. The highlight comes in the form of active engine mounts, which add unwanted complexity to an already complex vehicle while increasing the spread between performance and comfort.

AMG DYNAMIC PLUS Package further comprises AMG lettering on the brake calipers, which come in red. The finishing touches are the microfiber-wrapped AMG Performance steering wheel, RACE drive program, and Drift mode.