Here’s The Best Way To Hear Mercedes-AMG’ New Flat-Plane V8

Coupe or convertible? We’ve all got our go-to body style and reasons to back that choice up, but we can think of eight reasons why you might want to take the drop-top Mercedes-AMG CLE seen in these spy shots over its tin-top brother we caught sight of last month.

Related: Mercedes Killed The V8 C63, But This CLE Might Be Its Redemption

The square tailpipes tell us this isn’t a six-cylinder AMG CLE 53, but the upcoming CLE 63 whose engine bay is home to Benz’s new flat-plane crank V8. And you’re going to hear more of those V8 notes in the CLE convertible than the CLE coupe.

Over 600 Horses

SH Proshots

This year’s revised S-Class sedan was first to receive the new 4.0-liter V8, though we can expect the AMG versions to pump out considerably more muscle than the 530 hp (537 PS) and 533 lb-ft (750 Nm) the posh sedan musters. AMG kind of teased the CLE 63 by revealing the limited edition Mythos CLE, which is confirmed to get the V8 and is rumored to make over 650 hp (659 PS).

Also: 2027 Mercedes S-Class Trades Old School Luxury For Screens And A Surprise V8

Twin-turbo V8 power will then trickle down into the production CLE 63, and possibly even in the future C-Class and GLC whose powerful but unloved 2.0-liter, four-cylinder PHEV 63 models have been axed, along with the also-four-cylinder 43s. Until the new 63s land the hottest AMG engine available in the C, CLE and GLC is a mild-hybrid, 3.0-liter, six-cylinder 53 with 443 hp (449 PS).

Visually, the CLE convertible facelift changes mirror those coming to the coupe. Up front, it adopts Mercedes’ now-familiar star-shaped daytime running lights. They give the nose a bit more sparkle and align it with the brand’s latest design language.

Smarter Tech

Inside, the cabin should feel reassuringly familiar rather than radically different. Expect the same twin-screen layout rather than a full Hyperscreen takeover. The bigger update is software. The refreshed CLE will run the new Mercedes-Benz Operating System, bringing deeper AI integrations from Microsoft and Google into MBUX. Think smarter navigation and infotainment, and driver assistance systems that feel more like human driver helpers.

But let’s be honest, it’s that V8 that we’re looking forward to seeing most. And hearing most. Flat-plane V8s tend to sound harsher than the traditional cross-plane versions that AMG has traditionally used, so it’ll be fascinating to see how that character works in a car that has to feel luxurious and refined, and not just like a leather-lined hot rod.

SH Proshots