Mercedes-AMG introduced the CLE 53 last year and now they’re gearing up to unveil an even more extreme variant. A prototype was recently spied undergoing testing, but it appears to be missing a charging port. This is an interesting omission as previous spy photos of the CLE 63 S E Performance have shown a rather obvious charging door on the right rear bumper. We can also rule out this being an old CLE 53 prototype as it sports a squared off four-tailpipe exhaust system.
Given all of this, we’re left wondering if
the CLE 63 will be offered with two different powertrains. It’s not unheard of
as the SL is available in 63 and 63 S E Performance guise. The former has a
twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 developing 577 hp and 799
Nm of torque, while the latter has a plug-in hybrid powertrain that combines
the twin-turbo V8 with a rear-mounted motor and a 6.1 kWh battery pack. This
gives the high-performance roadster 805 hp and 1,420 Nm of torque.
Needless to say the CLE 63 S E Performance
won’t be that extreme as it’s expected to echo the C 63 S E Performance, which
has 671 hp and 1,018 Nm of torque. However, since
the CLE 53 uses an inline-six, there’s speculation the CLE 63 could follow suit
and mirror the E63 S E Performance. If that’s the case, the model could have
more than 700 hp.
However, this prototype doesn’t appear to
be a plug-in hybrid unless the charging port door was purposely covered. That
seems unlikely and it’s interesting to note there were rumors the C63 and E63
would eventually get a V8 engine. Insiders threw water on that idea, but
perhaps there was a missing L between that C and E. Regardless of what the
company has up their sleeve, the prototype has an aggressive front fascia with
a Panamericana grille and sporty intakes. They’re joined by front fender vents,
a sizable rear spoiler, and lightweight wheels that are backed up by a
high-performance braking system.
