Mercedes is gearing up for spring by announcing the CLE Cabriolet will arrive at U.S. dealerships soon with a base price of US$ 64,350. That’s US$ 7,850 more than the CLE Coupe and US$ 7,100 more than the outgoing C-Class Convertible. Designed to be a comfortable cruiser, the CLE Cabriolet has an acoustic soft top that can be lowered or raised in as little as 20 seconds at speeds up to 60 km/h. To help keep things quiet when the roof is down, the model has wind deflectors that deploy from the top of the windscreen as well as from behind the rear seats.
Mercedes didn’t release full equipment
details, but the car can be equipped with a Night Package and a variety of
wheels in sizes up to 20-inches. Customers can also get an AMG Line package,
which adds a sportier front bumper, beefier front brakes, and a dual exhaust
system. The package also includes a flat-bottom steering wheel, stainless steel
pedals, and two-tone trim that sees high-gloss black combined with silver chrome
accents.
Speaking of the interior, buyers will find
a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and an 11.9-inch infotainment system
with a portrait orientation. They’re joined by heated front seats with an
Airscarf neck level heating system. Other niceties include a wireless
smartphone charger and a Burmester audio system. Buyers looking for more luxury
can upgrade to the Pinnacle trim, which adds a head-up display, augmented
reality navigation, and a 360° surround view camera system. The range-topping variant
also has a Guard 360 security system and
Digital Light headlights with projections.
On the safety front, there are a handful
of standard driver assistance systems including Active Brake Assist, Attention
Assist, and Blind Spot Assist. The Driver Assistance Package adds Distronic
Plus with Steering Assist and Stop & Go Assist, Active Lane Change Assist,
and Route-Based Speed Adaptation.
The entry-level C300 4Matic Cabriolet has
a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 255 hp and 400 Nm of torque. The mild-hybrid powertrain enables the car to
accelerate from 0-96 km/h in approximately 6.2 seconds, before
hitting an electronically limited top speed of 209 km/h. The CLE 450
4Matic Cabriolet begins at US$ 73,850 and it has a 3.0-liter inline-six developing
375 hp and 500 Nm of torque. Thanks to the extra
oomph, the 0-96 km/h time falls to around 4.2 seconds.