Mercedes-Benz CLE Cabriolet Debuts, Market Rollout Scheduled In April 2024
Giancarlo Perlas February 8, 2024The legacy of the four-seater, open-top dream of Mercedes-Benz continues with the new CLE Cabriolet. Crafted on the foundation of the sporty CLE Coupe, this convertible brings a distinct character to the lineup. The classic fabric acoustic soft top, available in various colors distinguishes the CLE Cabriolet. Priced at a starting point of 66,402 euros, it promises a unique blend of expressive design, intelligent technology, and elevated equipment for an exclusive driving experience when it launches in the market by April 2024.
Year-Round Open-Air Enjoyment
According to Mercedes-Benz’s promotional material, the CLE Cabriolet is designed for open-air enjoyment throughout the year, featuring an electric wind deflector system, AIRCAP, and AIRSCARF headroom heating system as standard equipment. These have been developed to provide a more pleasant driving experience in cooler temperatures.
Meanwhile, the fabric acoustic soft top available in black, grey, and red adds to the year-round usability. It quietly operates electrically when opening and closing, and each operation only takes just 20 seconds.
Luxurious Interiors and Ambiance
Step inside, and the CLE Cabrio cockpit unfolds a luxurious tech haven. The 12.3-inch fully digital instrument display and the 11.9-inch central display in portrait format catch the eye.
Dynamic ambient lighting sweeps across the cockpit, creating a captivating wraparound feel. Handcrafted Nappa leather-effect upholstery adorns the top of the dashboard, beltlines, and soft-top stowage lid, complemented by chrome trim throughout the passenger compartment.
To ensure comfort during warmer months, optional leather seats come with a special coating that reflects the sun’s near-infrared rays, keeping them up to 12 degrees cooler in direct sunlight. The choice of colors for the sun-reflecting leather includes black, macchiato beige/black, tonka brown/black, power red/black, and white/black.
The vehicle offers spacious interiors, especially for rear passengers, with additional knee, shoulder, and elbow room compared to the C-Class Cabriolet.
Interactive Entertainment and Personalization
The CLE Cabriolet boasts an exceptionally interactive and personalized entertainment system. The third generation of the MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) infotainment system introduces third-party apps such as “TikTok,” “Zoom,” and “Audials.” The MBUX Entertainment package, available through the Mercedes me Store, includes internet radio, music streaming, and a data package from a selected third-party provider.
Thanks to artificial intelligence, MBUX offers a new level of personalization with automated convenience functions. Customers can choose from templates for standard routines, such as “Cold days” or “Date night,” and create their routines by linking functions and conditions. This customization enhances the driving experience, making it more intuitive and tailored to individual preferences.
Dynamic and Comfortable Driving Experience
The CLE Cabriolet excels in delivering both a dynamic and comfortable driving experience. The standard comfort suspension, lowered by 15 millimeters, combines a comfortable ride with responsive, sporty handling.
An optional sports suspension with amplitude-selective damping is available for enthusiasts seeking a more athletic feel. The DYNAMIC BODY CONTROL suspension, another optional feature, allows for a highly adjustable driving experience, ranging from sporty to comfortable.
Powertrain
All engines in the CLE Cabriolet lineup are mild hybrids, equipped with an integrated starter-generator and a 48-volt onboard electrical system to deliver a 23 hp boost when needed. Available in four-cylinder diesel (CLE 220 d) and six-cylinder petrol (CLE 200 and CLE 200 4MATIC) 2.0-liter engines, the new convertible produces between 197 hp and 204 hp.
