Not long ago, Mercedes said it planned to trim the number of coupes, convertibles, and wagon variants it offers. Not long ago, I told my doctor I’d drink less coffee.
Mercedes’ AMG speed shop has just released its second new high-performance convertible. Guess what’s sitting on my desk as I type this?
A High-Performance CLE
Later this year, the 2025 Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 cabriolet will join the AMG SL as 2-door ragtops with high-performance specs and AMG badges at your local Mercedes-Benz dealership. Mercedes hasn’t revealed pricing, but we expect the new one to come close to the six-figure line.
It’s a high-performance edition of the CLE Cabriolet, a lovely convertible that steals some territory from the compact C-Class and some from the midsize E-Class.
As a top-of-the-line CLE Cabriolet, it combines graceful lines with luxurious touches. As an AMG, it adds a lot of performance gear to the CLE’s luxury.
443 Horsepower, 4-Wheel Steering
Under the hood purrs a 3.0-liter, turbocharged inline-6-cylinder engine mated to a 48-volt mild hybrid system. The units combine for 443 hp and 413 lb-ft of torque. An overboost system briefly adds 30 more lb-ft of torque for 10 seconds. Power goes through a 9-speed automatic transmission to the 4Matic+ variable all-wheel drive (AWD) system.
Mercedes says the combination will leap you from a standstill to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds.
The AMG Ride Control suspension adjusts the damping at each wheel independently. Drivers can select Comfort, Sport, or Sport+ modes to “provide a noticeable difference between ride comfort and dynamic driving characteristics.”
Rear-axle steering, standard, lets the rear wheels turn opposite the front at low speeds and with them at high speeds. That makes parking lot maneuvering simpler and enhances track agility.
Muscled Look, Sun-Resistant Leather
The CLE Cabriolet already has lovely, balanced lines. But AMG tuners flared front and rear wheel arches to lend it muscle. The black AMG-specific grille with its vertical strakes sits above an enlarged lower air inlet. Parked next to any other CLE, it will look like the speedy one.
Inside, drivers can adjust the tilt of the central display to avoid glare when the top is down — a thoughtful touch. Integral sport seats are upholstered in Mercedes’ MB-Tex faux leather, but the real stuff is available. If you opt for it, genuine hides come with “a special coating designed to keep seat surfaces cooler in direct sunlight by up to 53 degrees Fahrenheit compared to untreated leather.”
The acoustic soft-top “opens or closes in as little as 20 seconds and can be operated at speeds up to 37 mph,” Mercedes says.
