Mercedes is - not quite literally - killing two birds with one stone, by which we mean that this new CLE Coupe is designed to replace two outgoing models - the C-Class Coupe and the E-Class Coupe.
Lots of Mercedes C-Class influence
The low-set grille at the front of the CLE, and the slim headlights, are very similar to those of the Mercedes C-Class saloon, while there are also ultra-slim rear lights. There is a CLE Cabriolet too.
The CLE is 4.8 metres long - longer than the old E-Class Coupe - and its wheelbase is some 25mm longer than that of the old C-Class Coupe, with a 420-litre boot
Interior taken from the C-Class
Inside, the CLE lifts its dashboard more or less directly from the C-Class. You get the same 12-inch digital instrument panel behind the steering wheel and the same 11.9-inch touchscreen leaning back at an angle on the centre console, with three rounded-square air vents above it. The touchscreen's new MBUX software allows you to add third-party apps to its setup, so you'll be able to download the likes of Spotify and even Angry Birds to your new Coupe.
The front seats are high-backed, in the Merc coupe tradition, and can optionally be heated and cooled and fitted with a massage function.
At launch, the CLE will be powered by mild-hybrid petrol engines and one diesel engine. The range kicks off with the CLE 220 d, which has 200hp and CO2 emissions of 123g/km.
Next is the turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol CLE 200, with 204hp and 145g/km of CO2, which you can optionally have with 4Matic four-wheel drive. The CLE 300 uses the same core engine but has more power - 258hp, with CO2 emissions of 159g/km - and standard four-wheel drive.
Plug-in hybrids coming soon
At the top of the range, for now, is the CLE 450, which also gets 4Matic four-wheel drive as standard, has up to 381hp, 500Nm of torque and has CO2 emissions of 176g/km.
Mercedes has confirmed that the CLE will also get plug-in hybrid power in due course, which we assume will mean it will come with the same powertrain as the C 300 e. That car has an electric range of up to 120km and CO2 emissions of just 12g/km.
Mercedes also has a high-performance plug-in hybrid system in the shape of the C 63 AMG with 476hp, but that has only a small battery and an electric range of just 13km on a full charge.
Underneath, the CLE's suspension has been lowered by 15mm compared with the C-Class, and you can optionally fit it with adaptive dampers. It also gets rear-wheel steering, which can turn the back wheels by 2.5 degrees, to give the CLE an exceptionally tight turning circle of just 10.7 metres.
No Irish prices for the Mercedes CLE have been announced yet, but it should be on sale here by the end of this year.