BMW M4

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MERCEDES-AMG CLE 53

CLE is wider and heavier

The Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 4MATIC+ Coupe was released on June 24, 2024. Not only was it a high-performance, luxury sports coupe, but it also attracted attention for its unique in-line six-cylinder engine, which will be described later.

On July 11, 2024, a minor change version of the BMW M4 Competition M xDrive Coupe, a rival to the CLE, was released in Japan. The word “competition” refers to competition, and the car is a high-performance coupe designed for circuit racing.

There’s no doubt that the two cars are rivals, but when comparing body sizes, the CLE is slightly larger and heavier. Furthermore, both cars are equipped with tires of different widths front and rear, but the difference is greater for the CLE, with thinner front wheels and wider rear wheels than the M4. Both cars are AWD, but the CLE may be more focused on handling with the front wheels and acceleration with the rear wheels.

BMW M4 Competition M xDrive Coupe

Body size = Length 4805mm x Width 1885mm x Height 1400mm

Wheelbase = 2855mm

Vehicle weight = 1790kg

Tire size = 275/35R19 (front) / 285/30R20 (rear)

Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 4MATIC+ Coupe

Body size = Length 4855mm x Width 1935mm x Height 1435mm

Wheelbase = 2875mm

Vehicle weight = 1970kg

Tire size = 265/40R19 (front) / 295/35R19 (rear)

Pure turbo engine or electronically armed engine?

Both cars use inline-six turbocharged engines, but there’s an interesting difference in their mechanics: the M4’s engine is a twin-turbocharger, while the CLE is equipped with an electric supercharger and mild hybrid system in addition to the turbo.

Mercedes-AMG competes in F1, so some of the technology it has developed there may be reflected in the car’s design, but what makes it unique is that it incorporates electric technology to increase power.

The CLE is a racehorse trained with the latest technology, while the M4 is a horse whose heart and muscles have been strengthened to become more wild and powerful.

BMW M4 Competition M xDrive Coupe

Engine type = Inline 6-cylinder DOHC twin turbo

Displacement = 2992cc

Maximum output = 530PS/6250rpm

Maximum torque = 650Nm/2750-5730rpm

Transmission = 8-speed AT

Drive system = AWD

Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 4MATIC+ Coupe

Engine type = Inline 6-cylinder DOHC Turbo + Supercharger + Turbo

Displacement = 2996cc

Maximum output = 449PS/5800-6100rpm

Maximum torque = 560Nm/2200-5000rpm

Transmission = 9-speed AT

Drive system = AWD

The CLE is cheaper because it’s equipped with the latest electric technology.

Both cars, each priced at over 10 million yen, are by no means cheap. However, considering that they are hobby-oriented models incorporating the latest technology from premium brands, this price range can be said to be reasonable.

However, it’s interesting that the CLE 53, equipped with an electric supercharger and mild hybrid, is cheaper than the M4. It’s true that the M4 has better performance, and the CLE 53’s direct rival is the M440i, but even with that in mind, the price of the CLE feels cheap.

Vehicle price:

BMW M4 Competition M xDrive Coupe 14.58 million yen

Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 4MATIC+ Coupe 13.05 million yen

Related reading

Test drive the BMW M4 Competition M xDrive Coupe, the car that offers the ultimate driving pleasure

The popular M4 Coupe, a model that embodies BMW’s “Sheer Driving Joy,” has undergone a minor change. The engine’s maximum output has been increased by 20 PS, and the front and rear body designs have been refined. We took the M4 Coupe, which has reached its peak maturity, on a winding road. (Reprinted and restructured from the December 2024 issue of GENROQ)