Mercedes to replace C-Class, E-Class coupes with new 2-door CLE nameplate

Mercedes-Benz is taking a scalpel to its U.S. car lineup as more Americans embrace SUVs and crossovers over sedans and coupes.

The luxury brand this year confirmed it will stop selling the entry-level A-Class sedan in the U.S after 2022. It is also dropping the S-Class coupe.

At its national dealer meeting late last month, Mercedes said it will replace the C-Class and E-Class coupes with a new two-door CLE nameplate.

"There's just not enough demand for three coupe models," said a dealer at the meeting. "So, it didn't make sense to reinvest the billions of dollars it would take to do a refreshed version of any of those."

A Mercedes spokesman declined to comment on future product.

Cars represented 26 percent of Mercedes-Benz's total U.S. light-vehicle sales (329,574) in 2021, down from 29 percent in 2020. In the first quarter, Mercedes-Benz's U.S. car sales skidded 37 percent to 15,267, or just 20 percent of the brand's light-vehicle volume.

The base CLE, which arrives in U.S. dealerships in the first half of 2022, should be powered by a 2-liter, four-cylinder mild-hybrid engine, AutoPacific President Ed Kim said. An AMG version is also expected next year.

While targeting both C- and E-Class segments, the CLE's proportions will be closer to those of the C-Class, Kim said.

The four-passenger CLE, also available as a fabric-top convertible, will be built on Mercedes-Benz's MRA-2 platform and begin production in Bremen, Germany, in December, according to AutoForecast Solutions.

Modern crossover coupes such as the Mercedes-Benz GLE and GLC coupes are replacing the sporty style that previously lured buyers into two-door cars, AutoForecast Vice President Sam Fiorani said.

"Utility vehicles are appealing to a wider market as younger buyers appreciate the ability to throw their gear in the back, and older buyers like the ease of getting in and out of the vehicle," Fiorani said.