- Mercedes CLE facelift brings new lights, grille, and front tweaks.
- Interior may skip Hyperscreen and stick with twin-screen layout.
- AMG CLE 63 drops current four-cylinder hybrid powertrain.
It hasn’t been long since Mercedes-Benz introduced the CLE to take over from both the C-Class and E-Class Coupes, but in automotive years, even a few seasons can trigger a mid-cycle update. As these new spy photos show, the refreshed CLE isn’t dramatically different from the current version, though the mild changes are designed to bring it in line with the brand’s latest styling cues.
Read: Mercedes Found A New Way To Make The Facelifted SL Stand Out
The most noticeable revisions are up front, where this CLE prototype wears camouflage across its face. Beneath the patterned wrap sit reshaped headlights featuring the brand’s star-shaped LED daytime running lights, a design that’s being rolled out across the lineup. Look closely and you’ll see a similar light signature on upcoming versions of the S-Class, E-Class, and SL.
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The grille appears to have been slightly revised as well. Though details are still under wraps, it now looks a bit taller and narrower than before, breaking slightly from the proportions of the current model.
Meanwhile, the back end of the car seems untouched, at least for now. It’s unclear whether this prototype is simply wearing the rear components from the existing version or if that section of the design will carry over entirely to production.
The latest-generation CLA, which introduced the star DRLs to the front of new Mercedes models, also has star-shaped light signatures at the rear. If the brand wants to maintain a consistent look across its line-up, similar new rear signatures would be added to other models, like the CLE.
Limited changes are expected for the new CLE’s interior. From what we’ve heard, it will keep the same twin-screen layout as the current model. It won’t adopt the Hyperscreen setup seen in some higher-end Mercedes vehicles, nor will it move to the simplified single-display interface found in the GLC EV. For better or worse, the cabin should remain largely familiar, beyond some minor tweaks.
Big Power for the Top Trim
The core engine lineup is expected to carry over without major changes. That includes the base 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, which delivers 255 horsepower and 295 lb-ft (400 Nm) of torque. Above that sits a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six, available in two versions making 375 hp and 443 hp, respectively.
See: New Flat-Plane V8 Coming To Mercedes-AMG CLE 63, But It Won’t Sound The Same
At the top of the range, however, there’s some pleasant news for fans of big engines. The AMG-developed CLE 63 will feature Mercedes’ new 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged flat-plane crank V8, set to make its first appearance in the updated S-Class later this week.
Output figures haven’t been released yet, but we’d be surprised if it didn’t come close to, if not push past, the 600-horsepower mark in AMG applications.
For comparison, the current C63 uses a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor mounted at the rear axle and a 6.1 kWh lithium-ion battery. Even if the 4.0-liter comes in under the hybrid model on paper, we doubt anyone’s going to miss the four-cylinder once that V8 fires up.
