Mercedes-Benz CLE 300 4MATIC Coupé

A luxury like no other, fashionably strutting the local roads, the all-new Mercedes-Benz CLE Coupe, officially launched in Malaysia.

Designation C236, the first-generation GT coupe poses as a direct successor to the C-Class (C205) and E-Class (C238) coupes.

Fully-imported (CBU - Germany), offered is a single variant (CLE 300 4MATIC Coupe) retailing at MYR 518,888 (OTR, w/o insurance).

Included is a standard vehicle warranty (four-year/unlimited-mileage). Optional is an extended vehicle warranty (six-year/unlimited-mileage).

Six (standard) exterior colours (Black, Polar White, Obsidian Black Metallic, Graphite Grey Metallic, Cirrus Silver Metallic, Starling Blue Metallic). 

Four (MANUFAKTUR) exterior colours (Alpine Grey, Patagonia Red Metallic, Moonlight White Metallic, Graphite Grey Magno).

Cockpit of the all-new CLE Coupe exudes an elegantly-sporty outlook, premium-made blessed with the AMG Line Interior treatment.

The dashboard sees ARTICO man-made leather (Nappa-Black), accentuated by hard-panels (metal weave - Space Grey) with metal trimmings.

Merged to the dash is a cascading-flat centre console (gear-lever-deleted, armrest), draped in mixed fabric with metal trimmings.

Commanding the space are the floating screens (MBUX Multimedia System - instrument cluster/infotainment) and metallised-turbine-designed air-conditioning nozzles.

Accentuating the environment is an ambient light system (64-colour active), and AMG sports pedals (brushed stainless steel - black rubber studs).

Overall, the build is well-designed. Very driver- and passenger-oriented with accessibilities strategically-arranged.  

Part of the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) multimedia system, installed is a 12.3-Inch fully-digital instrument cluster (customisable layout) with a Head-Up Display (HUD).

Luxurious, the four-seater gets the AMG Line Interior, featuring ARTICO man-made leather upholstery (Black - seats, door beltlines).

The front sees electronic-powered (driver/passenger - multi-way, lumbar, active climate, memory) contoured sports seats.

The rear sees manual-operated (button - 60:40 split-fold, backrest recline) contoured comfort seats (two-seater), with the Easy-Access entry (front seat button).

Heightening the layout is a panoramic glass sunroof (electric - tilt/slide), a fabric headliner (Black), and AMG floor mats.

Despite being a two-door coupe, it offers ample interior mobility, providing generous cabin space. Sufficient head-, shoulder-, and leg-room.

Mounted is a sports steering wheel, in a tri-rounded-twin-spoke-flat-bottom design, wrapped in leather (Nappa-Black) with trimmings (Silver). 

Features are multi-switches (haptic-touch - media, vehicle settings), electronic column adjustments (tilt, telescopic), and paddle shifters (Silver-Chrome).

Aiding the drive is an Electric Power Steering (EPS) system.

Practical storage areas (Stowage Space Package). E.g., a glove box, centre console caverned/partitioned spaces with under-stowage, rear seating centre compartment (centre seat-deleted), and seat back/side door pockets.

Provided are four cup holders (two front - flex, two rear - standard), and two bottle holders (side doors).

Equipped are four USB ports (USB Package Plus - two - front, rear), one 12 V power socket (front), and a wireless charger (front).

The boot comes with the Easy-Pack Tailgate feature (hands-free - remote control/key fob, kick sensor, button). 

Accessing its contactless function opens up to 460-Litres (rear seats up) of load capacity. Included is the Load Compartment Package (side bags, luggage nets).

Weighing in at 1,780 KG, the all-new CLE Coupe measures at 4,850 MM long, 1,860 MM wide, 1,428 MM tall, and with a wheelbase spanning 2,865 MM.

Athletically-elegant, its exterior parades Mercedes-Benz’s ‘Sensual Purity’ design language, a seamless silhouette with smooth contours and clean-cut lines.

A short-overhang, the front-end sees a long-low-slung bonnet with Merc’s power domes, mildly-flared fenders, an A-shaped grille, and large corner/centre intakes.

Fitted is the AMG Line Exterior (3D Chrome Mercedes-Benz pattern grille, intake trims), and the Night Package (High-Gloss Black - side mirrors, intakes/window surrounds).

Elegantly-solid, it exudes an evenly-rounded and tightly-tapered shape, continuing the seamlessly-sculpted silhouette design.

A short-overhang, the rear-end sees a mildly-dipped coupe roofline, roundly-muscular quarter panels, a boot-lid-moulded spoiler, and a clean-cut bumper.

Fitted is the AMG Line Exterior (full-width diffuser, AMG spoiler lip, Chrome-tipped twin exhausts), and the Night Package (High-Gloss Black - window surrounds).

Angularly-elongated, the headlamps are housed inward-tilted, radiating a fierce outlook. installed are Digital Light LED units.

Features are LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL), automatic On/Off, projection function, Adaptive High Beam Assist Plus, welcome/leaving lights and sequential turn signals.

Sleek and sporty, the frameless tail lamps are housed in a two-piece full-width design (connecting centre trim).

Installed are full LED units. Features are inverted L-shaped light graphics, welcome/leaving lights, and sequential turn signals.

The side mirrors (High-Gloss Black) are electronic-powered (auto-fold, adjust), with turn signals, blind-spot indicators (Blind Spot Monitor - BSM), and automatic-dimming.

Equipped is a set of ventilated (front) and solid (rear) disc brakes. Drive is aided by an Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold. 

Sportily-designed (AMG Line Exterior), fitted are 19-Inch AMG multi-spoke two-tone (high-sheen - Black, Silver) light-alloy rims. 

The set is rubbered-up in 245/40 R19 (front) and 275/35 R19 (rear) Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 run-flat tyres.

The all-new CLE Coupe features the following sets of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).

Grouped under Driving Assistance Package Plus are Active Distance Assist Distronic, and Lane Departure Assistant (rear sensors). 

Under PRE-SAFE system, grouped are Active Lane-Keeping Assist, Active Steering Assist, Evasive Manoeuvre Support, Exit Warning Assist, and Active Brake Assist.

Under Parking Package, grouped are Memory Parking Assist, Active Parking Assist with PARKTRONIC, and parking cameras (360-degree, reverse).

Others include Adaptive High-Beam Assist (AHA), Blind Spot Monitor (BSM), Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake-Force Distribution (EBD), Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control System (TCS), and Hill Start Assist (HSA).

Passive safety under GUARD 360-degree Vehicle Protection, grouped are Anti-theft Alarm system (ATA), Emergency Key Deactivation, interior monitoring system, pedestrian protection, and impact beams (side, front).

Under PRE-SAFE Impulse Side, grouped are seven airbags (driver-passenger, centre, front side, front-rear curtain), and airbag disable function. 

Others include seat belts (reminders, pretensioners, anchors), Door Opening Warning (DOW), auto-dimming rear-view mirrors (interior, exterior), parking cameras (reverse, 360-degree), parking sensors (six - front, rear), Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold, Break-in resistant safety glass (laminated, heat-/noise-insulated, infrared-reflecting), door ajar warning, TIREFIT, and Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

Drive modes available via DYNAMIC SELECT (ECO, COMFORT, SPORT, INDIVIDUAL).

Part of the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) multimedia system (NTG 7), it sees a vertically-mounted (floating portrait) 11.9-Inch infotainment central display.

System supports three display styles (Classic, Sporty, Discreet), multiple interfaces (drive modes, vehicle settings), and three modes (Navigation, Assistance, Service).

Features are MBUX custom drive settings (fingerprint scanner), MBUX Interior Assistant (voice/gesture/steering controls), MBUX AR-Navigation, MBUX Navigation Premium, live traffic information, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto (wireless), sound personalisation, Mercedes-me Services, and climate control.

Audio is by a Burmester 3D surround sound system (17 speakers, two loudspeakers). 

The all-new CLE Coupe harbours a mild-hybrid-petrol powertrain.

Nestled is a 2.0-Litre, inline four-cylinder 16-valve, direct-injection turbocharged DOHC petrol engine (M256), producing 258 HP (190 KW) at 5,800 RPM and 400 NM at 2,000 - 3,200 RPM. 

Fused to the mill is a mild-hybrid system (coasting, recuperation), a 48 V Integrated Starter-Generator (ISG), generating 23 HP (17 KW) and 205 NM (EQ Boost).

The setup is mated to a 9G-Tronic (nine-speed) automatic transmission.

Power is transmitted to all four wheels, via Mercedes’ 4MATIC All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system. 

Also, incorporated is rear-axle steering (2.5-degrees), and brake energy recuperation system.

Acceleration from 0 to 100 KM/H is done in 6.2 seconds, and top speed is 250 KM/H.

Fuel tank capacity is at 66-Litres, and combined fuel consumption reads at 8.6 L/100 KM. Juicing-up the e-motor is a 1.0 KWH Lithium-Ion battery (boot floor-mounted).

The all-new CLE Coupe features these conveniences.

E.g., KEYLESS-GO Comfort Package (keyless/hands-free access, engine Start/Stop button), Easy-Pack Tailgate (hands-free - remote control/key fob, kick sensor, button), Load Compartment Package (side bags, luggage net), Stowage Space Package (interior storages), THERMOTRONIC dual-zone automatic climate control (rear air-vents, air purification), electronic-powered with Memory Package (driver/passenger - multi-way, lumbar, active climate, memory) contoured sports seats, steering wheel (electric column adjustments, multi-switches, paddle shifters, EPAS), Light and Sight Package (64-colour active ambient lights, illuminated door sills, exterior Mercedes-Benz surround lighting projection, interior LED lights), MBUX Multimedia System (MBUX Interior Assistant, MBUX AR-Navigation, MBUX Navigation Premium, MBUX custom drive settings), multiple power outlets (12 V socket, wireless chargers), USB Package Plus (four USB ports), flex cup holders (front), Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold, Mirror package (automatic-dimming rear-view mirrors - exterior, interior), window sun-blinds (pull-out), panoramic glass sunroof (electric - tilt/slide), Break-in resistant safety glass (laminated, heat-/noise-insulated, infrared-reflecting), parking cameras (reverse, 360-degree), parking sensors (six - front, rear), automatic headlamps (On/Off/high-beam), automatic wipers (rain sensing), automatic-pinch windows (up/down), and speed sensing door locks.

Installed for the cabin is the THERMOTRONIC dual-zone automatic climate control system (rear air-vents, air purification).

Propping-up the chassis is a multi-link (front, rear) suspension setup.

Courtesy of the Engineering Package, featured is the DYNAMIC BODY CONTROL suspension with adjustable damping.

Ultimately, it is comfortable and suitable as a daily driver. Performance- and comfort-wise, the ride quality is satisfactory. Great handling stability and agility at high speeds

The build is very well equipped to offer a high level of NVH comfort (Noise, Vibration, Harshness). 

Part of the aero-acoustic measures used at reducing wind, tyre and road noises include the installation of heat-, noise-insulating and infrared-reflecting acoustic laminated glass.

Overall, the cabin is able to suppress unwanted noises well and make them barely noticeable, in most of the day-to-day driving environment.

The all-new Mercedes-Benz CLE Coupe exudes an all-around sporty and sophisticated outlook. Its smooth and seamless silhouette is simply Mercedes.

Stepping inside, it boasts a luxurious cabin with its high-tech advanced cockpit layout and the overall premium upholstery.

Build quality is excellent, and pairing all these with its engaging powertrain, Mercedes-Benz’s new GT coupe is for sure a head turner.