The Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 Cabriolet Is A 443bhp Drop-Top

Gasp. We never saw this one coming. Following the introduction of the Cabriolet version of the Mercedes-Benz CLE, the car designed to replace two-door versions of both the C-Class and E-Class, and the high-performance AMG CLE 53 version of the coupe, the powertrain of the latter has been dropped into the body of the former to create this: the CLE 53 Cabriolet.

The powertrain is unchanged from the AMG coupe: a 3.0-litre turbocharged and mildly hybridised straight-six powers all four wheels through a nine-speed automatic gearbox. All in, it’s producing 443bhp and 413lb ft of torque. That’ll get the CLE 53 Cabriolet to 62mph in 4.4 seconds. Spec the Pro Performance Package, and you get access to the Race Start launch control system, which drops that to 4.2 seconds – 0.1 of a second slower than the tin-top. Maximum speed is an identical 155mph.

The Cabrio still has the same suite of tech as its coupe sibling, too. This includes a variable four-wheel drive system with a drift mode (in a four-seater convertible!), adaptive AMG Ride Control suspension, and standard rear-axle steering. Obviously, it also gets the coupe’s swole arches, too.

Drop-top-specific features include the latest iteration of Merc’s long-running Airscarf system that blows warm air around the neck of front-seat occupants, and the Aircap system of wind deflectors, which we found isn’t quite as effective as Mercedes says. The fully insulated fabric roof can be specced in black, red or grey.

Mercedes hasn’t announced prices for the CLE 53 Cabriolet yet, but reckon on a good few grand more than the £73,075 that the coupe starts at. We found the standard CLE Cabriolet to be an exceptionally pleasant wafter, while the AMG coupe didn’t quite live up to its sporty badges. Could this be the best of both worlds?