CLE Convertible

Segment
Compact

CarBuzz spy photographers have captured the upcoming Mercedes-Benz CLE Convertible in AMG form, revealing the car's production bodywork for the first time. In case you missed it, Mercedes has decided the E-Class Coupe and Convertible overlap with the C-Class Coupe and Convertible too much, so the automaker has created a new model that will effectively replace both ranges.

With these new spy shots, it's become clearer than ever that the CLE will be a slightly miniaturized take on the beautiful SL. Speaking of the SL drop-top, that car replaces the AMG GT Roadster, another indication that Merc's product lineup has been saturated for too long.

But back to the car at hand. Let's take a look at what has been revealed of the body.

Following convention, the AMG-powered CLE Convertible's rear end features a quartet of exhaust tips, while the front gets gaping lower side intakes and a mesh-like Panamericana grille. The AMG CLE 63 also appears to run on a wider track, and we can see uprated brakes hiding behind very sporty wheels. These wheels are painted black, which often indicates that they are not intended for production, but we earnestly hope that is not the case here, as these look sexy enough to go on a Lamborghini. Either way, the CLE 63 is expected to have Lambo-like power from its hybridized powertrain. As you've probably guessed, this won't include a V8.

Like the hybrid-powered SL models, the AMG CLE has a charging port located in the rear bumper. We expect this to feed the same plug-in hybrid system found in the C63 sedan, where the world's most powerful 2.0-liter turbocharged production four-cylinder engine is bolstered by electric assistance to produce 671 horsepower. Early indications suggest that the CLE's output will be identical, but nothing is official just yet.

We also don't yet know exactly when to expect the CLE to hit the market, but since we've already seen the CLE 63 in coupe form with its production bodywork, it seems that development is progressing at a steady pace. We expect to see a full reveal later this year.